13th April 2024

13th April 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 11v2)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If Ecclesiastes eleven and verse one urged us to take risks for the Lord then the lesser known verse two counsels us to proceed with caution. Do they contradict one another? By no means, but as we take bold decisions for the Gospel of Jesus we are to do so with wisdom. Using the same image of a loaf of bread, we are to divide it out among seven or even eight recipients (v2) for we do not know what disaster might happen on earth. To use a phrase that your mother used to say, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."


Let's imagine the pretend congregation of Ballydaisy Presbyterian Church. Ballydaisy had a substantial pot of money which they passionately believed should all be spent on the work of mission. They had as their motto William Carey's famous quote "Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God." and so they gave every penny of their money to the work of church planting around the world. Who could fault such a decision? No one...except those who every Sunday had to sit underneath the hole in Ballydaisy's roof.


Were our imaginary friends in Ballydaisy wrong for spending their money on mission? No! They made a noble decision but perhaps one egg should have been removed from the mission basket and placed into the church roof basket. Do you see my point? We are to be risk takers for the cause of Christ but never to the extent that cautious wisdom is ignored. It was the Rev. H.K. Williams who once remarked "if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail." and I think his wisdom applies as we try to respond to Ecclesiastes eleven.


A church that refuses to be knocked off course is wonderful indeed. It is exciting to hear about fellowships making grand plans and casting their bread upon the waters for the cause of Christ. Even better is a courageous, risk taking fellowship that has done the hard work of prayerful preparation before acting. Let me suggest that Solomon encourages us to be "cautiously risky" in our response to the Gospel. The risk taker should not trample the one who urges caution, nor should the cautious brother extinguish the fire of the risk taker. Both speak to one another and work together as the church wisely and cautiously casts its bread upon the waters for the sake of Jesus.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q12 What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.