Parental Recap of Week 9 [24/25]

Passage: Ecclesiastes 11:1-11

Topic: Planting

Initial Discussion (at church)

By this point into Ecclesiastes, we know that we don’t know what to expect from life. There are things we plan and hope for our future, but nothing is certain. How does might this fact shape our attitude and approach to investing in others?

Chapter 11 addresses the idea of reaping the fruits of sowing into other people. Though the future is unknown, what is known are the people God has placed in our lives – family, friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, etc. – and how they are opportunities for us to sow seeds of care, nurture, interest, support, and accountability. Simply put, seeds of love.

David Gibson says that all Christians are gardeners; we are always sowing. Whether it be seeds of sexual immorality, hatred, discord, jealousy, and envy or seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, Christians will reap what they sow. The fruits may not sprout immediately and the spiritual fruits may not always be shown to us but we ought to “find new behaviors to cultivate in each [God-given circumstance], and begin to sow and nurture them’ (Gibson). As the Bible commands, “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

Continued Discussion (at home)

1. Identity people and circumstances God has placed us in. In what ways are we currently sowing the seeds of the Spirit? What fruits have they bore?
2. In our exercise together, we discussed four obstacles that may keep us from investing into other people:
   1. Fear – fear of man, rejection, having to carry my cross
   2. Resignation – the thought of feeling inadequate or doubting oneself to make a difference
   3. Coldness – a lack of love for God and others
   4. Attachment – inability to let go of comforts and securities

Of the above, what is the main thing that keeps you from investing into other people (at school, at work, at church, at home, in your neighborhoods, etc.)?

3. How might an understanding of reaping fruits only in this life affect the motivations to reach out to other people? How might spiritual (and even eternal) fruits of the gospel provide a greater promise and motivation for us to overcome our obstacles?