Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• The phrase, “you do not know,” occurs four times in this short passage. Ecclesiastes is highlighting the truth that you don’t know everything, you don’t know the future, you don’t know how God might be working in and through your life. You are not omniscient. This is a simple, undeniable truth. How do you feel about that? Lost and out of control? Frustrated? Resigned to futility? Relieved? Comforted? Freed? At peace? Why do you think you feel how you do about your finite knowledge?

• In particular here, Ecclesiastes is highlighting the truth that you don’t know how your investments in God’s kingdom will turn out, you don’t know what kind of difference your good works (like prayer, service, giving, evangelism, etc.) might make. Rather than letting uncertainty or risk-aversion paralyze you, go ahead and invest in God’s kingdom, which means investing in people. Do you think it’s wise to take action when you’re uncertain of the outcome? To invest without first running the cost-benefit analysis? What do you think about investing in the people around you, for the sake of God’s kingdom? How do you feel about serving or giving or sharing the Gospel with others without anticipating how they might respond? Are there some practical ways you’re already doing that? Are there some practical ways you can invest further, or “diversify your investments?”

• Ecclesiastes commends investing ourselves in God’s kingdom, because God is the “God who makes everything” (v. 5). In the beginning (Gen. 1), God made everything out of nothing. God brings surplus out of shortage (think of Jesus feeding the multitudes, starting with only five loaves of bread and two fish). And the resurrection of Jesus shows that God even brings life of out death. Any investment you make in the kingdom of this God, he can turn into big gains—even if it means your suffering or rejection by others. Does this inspire you to pray, to serve, to give, to share the Gospel with others? If that’s not enough for you to faithfully respond to God’s call to good works, what do you think would be enough?