Ecclesiates says “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again” (Eccles. 11:1) This is an exhortation for God’s people to freely put to use and spend what God has provided them with. Not flippantly, nor without due care and proportion. Rather on the basis that God has provided for His people with ‘over-the-top’ generosity; gratuitous grace!
We have seen wonderful testimony to this within our church family so far through the COVID-19 crisis. We see God’s gratuitous grace par excellence in the giving of His Son’s life in love for the world’s salvation. As a part of His great grace, God has promised to always be our practical provider (Mt 6:26). It’s on this basis that we are to be confident to give away and use what God has given to us.
Numbers of us will have lived through times of severity and lack. At the moment we are all experiencing some of that through the pandemic. This understandably teaches us great care and caution with spending what we have. However, if we are always calculating and waiting for there to be no risk at all in us doing so, then nothing will ever happen! – “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Eccles 1:4)
God’s grace to us does not cease – it is a ‘river’ – a ceaseless flow. It is designed to always be on the move, given away, and replenished. We can’t ‘dam up’ grace; if we do, it turns lifeless, stagnant. When we live in the good of God’s grace, that always frees us in faith to still be free to wisely use our resources in His purposes.
Grace upon grace, Jonathan.