Life’s Investments – Principles of Release and Returns

LIFE’S INVESTMENTS:
PRINCIPLE OF RELEASE AND RETURNS
(Eccl. 11:1-6)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 11 October 2009

Eccl. 11:1-6 Three Possible Approaches
1. Commercial Activities
2. Risk Taking
3. Sowing and Reaping

I. NO RELEASE, NO RETURN
“Cast thy bread upon the waters” (:1)

CAST – give, let go, release. BREAD – what’s valuable?
Charles Swindoll – “Don’t put your bread in deep freeze, it’ll dry out. Don’t store it up in the pantry or seal it in the baggie, it’ll mould. Don’t hoard it, thinking that it needs protecting, release it.”

Principle of Releasing: “When we release something into God’s hand He will always bless it!”
Release: to discharge from obligation or responsibility, relinquishment of a right or claim. ?
What to release? Treasure, Time, Talent, Testimony

II. MORE RELEASE, MORE RETURNS
“Give a portion to seven, and also to eight” (:2)

7 is the number of completion or completeness; 8 is one step beyond?

The more investments, the more returns you can expect (Prov. 11:24-25; Lk 6:3).
Deposit, sow as much as you can, as often as you can, in as many places as you can!

III. DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES TO INVEST
“He that observeth the wind shall not sow” (:4, 5-6)?
Paralysis of analysis. If you wait for everything to be perfect before you make a move or investment, you will never do anything.

How do we release and get moving?
* Have confidence that God can change people and circumstances
* Risk and assurance: “nothing venture, nothing gain”
Do the best you can and leave the outcome to God (:5-6). Don’t forget the GOD-factor.

IV. MANY HAPPY RETURNS!
“Thou shalt find it after many days” (:1)

Here is the great law of investing your life—you may not see results today, or tomorrow, but if you invest your life into others, into the work of God, you will get returns. Sow in faith, believing that God will bring the increase! Psa. 126:6
Problem: Immediate gratification/results. “24” culture
Be Patient. Be Persistent?

CONCLUSION

Solomon emphasizes the importance of planting and harvesting in life. We need to take a risk to sow into the lives of others, to be generous with our time, talent and treasure, to make a decision and work hard and trust God for the results, and to enjoy whatever days God gives us on this earth. Today we must cast our bread on the water, we must sow our seed into lives, there is no other plan. Paul gives us this encouragement in Galatians 6—you will reap if you don’t give up. Some thirty fold, some 60 fold, some 100 fold.