Risk and Opportunities

 Bible Study Lesson from Ecclesiastes 11:1-5

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11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters,

for after many days you will find it again.

 

2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,

for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

 

3 If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain upon the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

 

4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

 

5 As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way we think, and the way we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Risk and opportunities

Success is Not Guaranteed

Solomon is saying that life presents opportunities along with the risks we take. There is no guarantee of success with anything we do in life. We can, at best, make an educated guess.

Preparation

Because of the risks and opportunities we will encounter in life, we must be prepared. When opportunities come our way we need to embrace them instead of being dispassionate about them.

Seize opportunities before they slip away. This is Solomon's meaning behind "Cast your bread upon the waters" so don't let opportunities in life slip by you.

Do Something!!

Sitting on our laurels will accomplish nothing so take a chance once in a while using the enthusiasm God gave you and you will have an adventure, not just a life.

Do it Now!!

Waiting until everything is "just right" will only lead to procrastination and I can promise you that absolutely nothing will happen in your life. If we wait until all the traffic lights are on green before starting out, we'll never make it to town. So, do it now!

The same is true for our spiritual well-being.

If we wait for the right time to read our Bibles (one of my faults), we'll never get started and we will miss out on the words God has for us today. If we are looking for a perfect church, we'll never find it so we will finally die spiritually. The same goes for the perfect pastor. He or she doesn't exist!

The Best Time - The Opportunity?

If you were going to start your spiritual walk with God, when would be the best time to start? How about if you start right now while your mind is ready? Don't wait until conditions "magically" appear because these conditions may never happen.

We Are Not Promised Tomorrow

And remember - one day it will be too late to begin your walk with God and I pray that you make a decision before that day comes.

Walk out on faith, take the risk of learning about God, and He will provide you with unlimited opportunities for happiness and meaning in your life. Do it now.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Other Bible Study Lessons

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 - Spiritual Gifts - A Little can go a Long Way