No Risks, No Rewards – Part 2
In Ecclesiastes 11 we read, “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on the earth.” Before we probe into the meaning of this passage, I would first like to share a story that may help in our understanding.
Recently I heard about a 94 year old investment broker who loved to golf. Sadly he had a bad hip and his eyesight was so poor that he couldn’t see where the ball landed. To compensate for his poor eyesight he used the same strategy he used for his successful brokerage — diversification. He made sure that his partners could compensate for his weakness.
All was well until one day his healthy, good seeing golfing partners didn’t show up. Seeing the retired broker’s frustrations, another elderly gentleman asked if he could be of assistance. When he shared that he had a bad hip and poor eyesight, the other elderly man smiled and said that he would be glad to golf with him and not to worry since he had 20/20 vision and was fit as a fiddle!
Both men hit down the fairway. They then drove the cart forward but neither could find their golf ball. The gentleman with poor eyesight then spouted, “I thought you had perfect eyesight?” The elderly man said, “I do.” But what does that have to do with anything? “You were supposed to watch for my ball,” the 94 year old said. ”Oh!” said the man. “I completely forgot!”
Diversification is important, for you never know what kind of disaster you’re going to encounter. In the context of Ecclesiastes 11, God is teaching us to spread our good works as much as possible. You never know how God is going to use the labors of our influence to someday help us in return.
“Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen
on the earth.”
~Ecclesiastes 11:2
