Cast your bread upon the waters

Ecc. 11. You do not know what the future will bring and what you sow you shall reap, Galatians 6:7.
You must give bread, the necessary supports of life, not only give good words but good things, Isa. 58:7. and it must be your bread, that which is honestly got; it is no charity, but injury, to give that which is none of our own to give; first do justly, and then love mercy.
Waters, in Scripture, are put for multitudes (Rev. 16:5). We read of the harvest of the river, Isa. 23:3, “… the harvest of the river is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.”
Freely and liberally bestow it upon the waters; upon those poor creatures, on whom it may seem to be as utterly lost, as the seed which a man casts into the sea or river. Sending it a voyage; send it as a venture, as merchants that trade by sea.
Trust it upon the waters; it shall not sink, and it will returned to you in hundred folded. It shall certainly be restored to you, either by G-d or men, the return may be slow, but it is sure, and will be so much the more plentiful. Our reward for well-doing is very certain, you think you have given your good word with it and are likely never to hear of it again, yet you shall find it after many days in a plentiful harvest your venture in a rich return. It is not lost, but well laid out, and well laid up; it brings in full interest in the present gifts of G-d's providence, and graces and comforts of His Spirit; and the principal is sure, laid up in heaven, for it is lent to the L-rd. Whatever you have imparted you still possess; these riches remain with you through all the vicissitudes of life. You shall find it, perhaps not quickly, but after many days; the return may be slow, but it is sure and will be so much the more plentiful. Long voyages make the best returns.
Human beings do not know what good or bad things may happen on earth so be free and liberal in works of charity. Give a good measure (Lk. 6:38); be generous in giving, for those that were given much are expected much in return. Excuse not yourself with the good you have done from the good you have further to do, but hold on, and mend. In hard times, when the number of the problems increases, let your charity and love be proportionally enlarged for G-d is rich in mercy to all, to us, though unworthy; He gives liberally, and upbraids not with former gifts, and we must be merciful as our heavenly Father is.
You know not what evil shall be upon the earth so our opportunity for well-doing is very uncertain: which may deprive you of your estate, and put you out of a capacity to do good, and therefore, while you have wherewithal, be liberal with it, improve the present season, before the frost comes.
We have reason to expect evil upon the earth, for we are born to trouble; what the evil may be we know not, but that we may be ready for it, whatever it is, it is our wisdom, in the day of prosperity, to be in good, to be doing good.
Great calamities may come whereby you may be brought to poverty, and so disabled from doing good. We could say hard times may come when we may want ourselves; whereas we should therefore the rather be charitable, that, when evil days come, we may have the comfort of having done good while we were able; we would then hope to find mercy both with G-d and man, and therefore should now show mercy. If by charity we trust G-d with what we have, we put it into good hands against bad times.
Our inescapable ignorance about the future is a valid reason for inaction. If you wait until you think you know what is going to happen you will never get anything done. If we stand thus magnifying every little difficulty and making the worst of it, starting objections and fancying hardship and danger where there is none, we shall never go on, much less go through with our work, nor make any thing of it. Those that will be deterred and driven off by small and seeming difficulties from great and real duties will never bring any thing to pass in religion, for there will always arise some wind, some cloud or other, at least in our imagination, to discourage us. Winds and clouds are in G-d's hands, are designed to try us, and our Christianity obliges us to endure hardness.
You need to go ahead and do whatever needs to be done; realizing that you do not know which of the things you do will have positive results and which do not. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely more (Lk. 14:28), one must count the cost of self indulgence. If we should do whatever our hearts and our minds desire – without forgetting, however, that G-d will eventually judge us for what we do. G-d wants us to enjoy the good things in life while, on the other hand, continuing to uphold the idea that G-d will eventually evaluate how well we have used our time, under the sun.
In the final analysis we have no security other than the grace of G-d.
This is applicable to spiritual charity, our pious endeavors for the good of the souls of others; let us continue them, for, though we have long labored in vain, we may at length see the success of them.
Life is sweet, and therefore we have needed to double a guard upon ourselves, lest we love it too well.
Life is a swiftly passing sweetness, which ought to be savored and enjoyed for the brief moment it last for we have but hours of joy for months of sorrow. For there will be many days of darkness, death is at no great distance; you have but a short time to do good. Acquire a heavenly disposition while here; for there will be no change after this life. If you die in the love of G-d, and in the love of man, in that state will you be found in the Day of Judgment. Death refines nothing, purifies nothing, kills no sin, and helps to no glory. Let your continual bent and inclination be to G-d, to holiness, to charity, to mercy, and to heaven: then, fall when you may, you will fall well.
Eternity alone is permanent; live for eternity.