“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 KJV

None of us knows just how long we have left in this life. It is transient, fleeting like the water vapour from the kettle. No one pays much heed, or values the fact that it is there. We notice when it hurts us, but it is mostly superficial and surplus to our needs.

It is wise to consider how we are spending our days and moments. What are we giving our selves to and what activities take the biggest share of our time.? We rarely even think this way.

This verse from the book of wisdom, forced us to take stock of time, money and effort spent on the activities we do. We do not know what things will bear fruit for God. We might have some preconceived ideas about what pleases God and what will bear fruit, but really we don’t know. The Seer is telling us to sow the seeds of the gospel morning and evening. We are not to withhold our hands from any of the work, because we do not know how the Spirit of God will work. We cannot tell who’s life He will enlighten and who will be brought to faith.

Perhaps God will bless this or that work…? Maybe a work done at that time, or this time. Maybe work done in this way or another way.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
We cannot tell the times and seasons, or the will of the Holy Spirit, so we must work…

Morning, evening, through the day- God may bless either or all… we work for Him in faith, resting in the sure promise that He Himself will bring the work to fruition.
Psalm 126:5-6 NIV
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

The amount and type of fruit is not our worry.. We work in the fields sowing the seed and praying that God will provide the harvest. We pray that there will be workers to share the load and widen the margins of the effect of the message.
Luke 10:2 NIV
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We shouldn’t be looking for early retirement in the Christian life. We serve and work right up to the end.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”
Do not stop casting out the bread of life, even on the uncertain seas. It will come back to you, and you will find the fruit of it even when a long time has passed. Mostly we will not see the return of our efforts until the Eternal kingdom comes.
Don’t give up on anything or anyone, because it is God’s work and God’s harvest.
Let us keep our eyes on the eternal kingdom and a life that lasts forever.