Ecclesiastes 11:3

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Clouds - answering to "evil" (); meaning, When the times of evil are fully ripe, evil must come; and speculations about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality, are vain, (). So far from being a ground for not giving, they are the very ground for giving. "Clouds" and "rain" represent the divine judgments (; ). When the measure of sin is "full," and the clouds of divine wrath gather, the storm will surely break forth. Forestall it by godly liberality while you may ().

Tree - once that the storm uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven, once that death overtakes him. Now is his time for becoming a new man in faith and love. The tree represents the now overshadowing world-power which, when once it hath fallen, cannot be raised again by man's power.

Shall not sow. Sow thy charity in faith, not yielding to despondency and inactivity because of the threatening aspect of the times. Toward the close of Solomon's reign things wore a gloomy look, (1 Kings 11:9; 1 Kings 12:1.) The wind might no doubt blow away the seed, and the clouds injure the crops; but the result rests with God (). So in man is told to 'cast his bread-corn' on the seemingly unpromising "waters." The farmer would get on badly who, instead of sowing and reaping, spent his time in watching the wind and clouds.