Thread by @great0727

𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒘; 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒑.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 [KJV]

Some will object, citing the many disappointments encountered in the practice of charity. They were accused of being arrogant or Pharisaical for doing almsgiving. They have little to give and will be looked down upon if they cannot give to others. They are the ones who might be

better off saving for their children, knowing that they might end up in need. They have taxes to pay and things to buy. They don't know how to use their benevolence, and they don't know how to interpret charity. To these excuses and hundreds of other similar objections, Solomon

gives a single answer (ver. 4). "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; (which means to do good), and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Suppose we take every trivial difficulty to a great extent and begin to object by making a big noise about insignificant

problems and try to imagine difficulties and dangers that do not exist. We will never be able to go ahead with our work, much less think of completing it and accomplishing nothing in it. If the farmer entangles one by one in the floating clouds, refuses or gives up sowing, and

refuses to reap because of all the gusting winds, he will only get a bad harvest that year. Our duties in the life of faith are as essential as sowing or reaping and will prove to be as beneficial to us as farming. Like the winds and clouds that stifle us in the performance

of these duties, they will do us no harm, and those with a little courage and determination will not mind it and will easily break through. Those who give up or withdraw from great and practical duties because of small visible difficulties will never accomplish anything in

religious life. For at least in our imagination there will always be a wind that discourages us, and this or that cloud will always rise. But the wind and clouds are also in God's hands, and they are to test us.