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"Give a serving to seven, and also to eight"

Text: Ecclesiastes 11:2

THE CHALLENGE TO BE GENEROUS

Solomon continued to give sound and solid advice concerning generosity. The cryptic words are challenging to fathom and to apply!

“Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”
Ecclesiastes 11:2

1. “Give a serving to seven”

a) The essential word is “give”.

i) Giving is an appropriate word that describes generosity.

ii) This is a virtue that is worth learning and practising.

b) Simple acts of giving:

i) To give a serving.

ii) It may be a simple thing to give out essentials like food.

c) Generosity is seen when one extends oneself.

i) Helping one individual may not be significant.

ii) To help seven people is generosity in action.

iii) To sustain this kind of giving is the soul of generosity.

2. “And also to eight”

a) Giving to seven… and also to eight.

b) This became a proverbial saying.

c) The meaning is the same.

i) To be generous.

ii) To more than one…

iii) To seven… and if there is number eight… the heart is not grieved to give more.
This is the true spirit of generosity!

3. “For you do not know what evil will be on the earth”

a) There is always evil afoot.

b) We do not know when evil things can occur.

c) Evil can affect people severely and adversely.

d) One’s ability to be generous may be affected.

e) People who may need help may be unable to receive help.

f) Evil can result in death for some or many.

The challenge is to practise generosity when we are still able to do that! May the Lord bless us with a soul of generosity!