READING FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2025: ECCLESIASTES 11, ACTS 13, PSALM 102:19-28 ECCLESIASTES 11 The first verse of this chapter is one of those verses that has crossed into mainstream cultural usage: “Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” But, what does it mean? Although different translations give it a certain spin, the above rendering seems most faithful to the original Hebrew. Casting bread could mean releasing control of a valuable resource. (Remember Jesus was concerned that people lived on bread alone.) The surface of the waters could refer to a location that is somewhat fluid or uncertain. Finding it after many days suggests receiving a benefit in the distant future. Putting it all together may suggest investing a certain portion of time, energy, or money in a not entirely knowable venture that will only reap benefits far into the future. Examples could be long-term financial investments, going to medical school, or praying many years for a friend’s salvation.
Verse two also seems to carry with it an investment strategy application. Dividing one’s re- sources into 7 or 8 buckets seems similar to the expression “not putting all your eggs in one basket.” Applications could include diversifying one’s investment portfolio, always having a plan B career path in mind, or, connecting to Jesus’s parable of the sower, sharing the Gospel widely. The reason being is that life has so many unexpected twists and turns that having only one specialty or plan might not turn out. Verse three reminds us to also be aware of those cases that do have predictable patterns of cause and effect. Verse four warns against too much idle speculation when there is work to be done. Verse 5 expresses the obvious but overlooked fact that God is doing much more in the world than is evident from our little perspective. Verse 6 offers the fact that spending more time on an activity increases chances for success. One would think that all piano students in the world would intuit this.
All the above are solid nuggets of practical wisdom in an under the sun environment, with some having a possible spiritual application. We should heed them but not consider them the totality of our lives or sources of ultimate meaning. The last four verses remind us that any success we have or any enjoyment we experience in our childhood or prime years is fleeting in an under the sun worldview. Solomon suggests maximizing these enjoyable years and successful achievements because it is all so temporary and fleeting in the big picture. The Apostle Paul agreed with this conclusion, if in fact Jesus had not risen from the grave and we will not rise at the last days: “If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32). If Jesus rose from the dead, our lives have eternal meaning. If not, we should pursue maximum pleasure now and try not to think too deeply about tomorrow.
READING FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2025: ACTS 13, PSALMS 102:12-18 ACTS 13 When Paul writes letters to the various churches, it doesn’t seem he is addressing any one person whom we would call the “senior pastor” today. His personal letters to Titus and Timothy, however, do seem to imply these men had leadership roles. In the case of Titus, his leadership applied to several cities in Crete: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). Paul gave Timothy a leadership role in Ephesus: “Remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines” (1 Tim. 1:3). The situation Luke describes in Antioch where five leaders are highlighted may have been the norm. Here is also an example of the relationship between fasting and serving the Lord leading to clear direction from the Holy Spirit. This is followed up by more fasting, praying, laying on of hands, and sending out—an exciting spiritual combo.
Saul and Barnabus were sent by the Spirit to Cyprus. John Mark assisted their evangelism. Their MO was to first preach the Word of God in synagogues. To state the obvious, if Saul and Barnabus preached the Word, it’s likely best practice for pastors to do so today rather than wander off on other topics. No advance of God’s word will proceed without opposition from Satan. At Paphos, this took the form of the magician Bar-Jesus, who had influence with the proconsul Sergius Paulus. In a face-to-face spiritual showdown, Saul (also called Paul) blinded the magician and Paulus believed in Jesus. We can defeat Satan today in Jesus’s name!
When Paul and Barnabus attended the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, they were invited to speak. Give Paul a little opening, then watch out. He proceeded with an overview of Jewish history, much as he watched Stephen give, starting with the time in Egypt all the way to Jesus. He masterfully explained how the Psalms, Isaiah, and Habakkuk spoke clearly of Jesus. This brilliant tour de force left the people begging for more the following week. A standing room crowd awaited them next Sabbath including, not surprisingly, those Jews with a vested interest in stopping the Gospel. Although the word spread, persecution led Paul and Barnabus to leave for Iconium to begin focusing on the Gentiles. THE GOSPEL CANNOT BE STOPPED.
PSALM 102:19-28 In verse 19 the Psalmist reasserts God’s sovereignty over the world. He emphasizes God’s compassion in setting the prisoners free, as He did in Egypt and again at the cross. Then he correctly anticipates what Paul is experiencing in that the truth is moving to all nations, not just within Israel. He briefly mentions that God has allowed his pain and asks that he not die in middle age. But he moves to consider that even the worlds that God created will also wear out. God will not change, though. God will endure forever and so will the Psalmist’s posterity. What might be the key takeaway from this Psalm? Enfold our little life stories into God’s grand story for all peoples. When God ultimately triumphs, then so will we.
