Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

"Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." — Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (ASV)

Solomon presses the rich to do good to others. Give freely, though it may seem thrown away and lost. Give to many. Do not excuse yourself with the good you have done, from the good you still have to do. It is not lost, but well invested.

We have reason to expect evil, for we are born to trouble; it is wisdom to do good in the day of prosperity. Riches cannot profit us, if we do not benefit others. Every person must labor to be a blessing to that place where the providence of God casts them.

Wherever we are, we may find good work to do, if we only have the heart to do it. If we magnify every little difficulty, raise objections, and imagine hardships, we will never go on, much less go through with our work. Winds and clouds of tribulation are, in God's hands, designed to test us.

God's work will agree with his word, whether we see it or not. And we may well trust God to provide for us, without our anxious, disquieting cares. Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season, in God's time, you shall reap (Galatians 6:9).