This lesson teaches children that God wants us to be generous and wise, even when we cannot see how things will turn out. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, with time for the story, a Bible reading, a few questions, and an activity.
Big Idea
We can share what we have and trust God with the results, because we do not know everything, but God does. Good things can grow in ways we never expect.
Memory Verse
Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out, cupped together, like you are holding bread. Then slowly open them and let your hands drift down toward the floor, as if you are tossing the bread onto the water. Do this each time you say the verse together.
The Story: Ecclesiastes 11 for Kids
Long ago, a wise man named Solomon wrote down many lessons about how to live well. In this chapter, he talked about giving and about trusting God when we cannot see the way ahead. He used pictures from everyday life, like bread floating on a river and clouds full of rain.
Solomon said that people should be generous. He told them to share their bread with many people, even seven or eight of them. Why? Because no one knows what hard times might come to the land. Giving helps people when they need it most.
Solomon also noticed that we cannot control everything. The wind blows where it wants. The clouds rain when they are full. A farmer who waits for perfect weather never plants his seed. So Solomon said, “Plant in the morning, and do not stop working in the evening.” The farmer does not know which seed will grow best, so he works hard and leaves the rest to God.
Next, Solomon reminded young people to enjoy their lives. He said that light is sweet and that the sun is a happy thing to see. He told them to rejoice in their youth. But he also told them to remember that God sees everything they do, and to choose kind and good ways to live.
Solomon ended with a simple message. Let go of worry and do what is right. Our lives are short and full of changes, but God is always faithful and always good.
Read It Together
Ecclesiastes 11:2
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
(WEB)
Point out the word “give.” Ask the children what they might share with a friend or family member this week. Explain that this verse invites us to be generous even when we are not sure what will happen tomorrow.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
(WEB)
Show the children how a farmer watches the sky and the wind. Explain that Solomon is saying we cannot wait for every detail to be perfect before we act. Sometimes we simply have to start and trust God with the outcome.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
(WEB)
Help the children hear the two parts of this passage: enjoying life and remembering God’s judgment. Explain that being joyful and being good go together. We can be happy in our youth while still choosing what is right.
Talk About It
- What is one thing you could share with someone who needs it this week?
- Why do you think Solomon compared giving to throwing bread on the water?
- How does it feel when you do not know how something will turn out?
- What makes you happy when you think about God’s faithfulness?
- What is one good choice you can make today, even if nobody sees it?
Activity Ideas
Bread on the Water Picture
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and blue paint or a blue crayon. Have each child draw a blue river or lake across the bottom of the paper. Then have them draw small pieces of bread floating on the water, with a few birds or fish nearby. While they draw, talk about one person they could help and what they might give. Keep the pictures to display in the classroom or at home.
Plant and Wait Game
You will need a few small cups, soil, and bean or grass seeds, plus a sunny windowsill. Let children plant their seeds, then tell them the seeds will take time to grow, just as Solomon said we do not know which seed will prosper. Have children move like seeds sprouting, slowly stretching up from the floor as you read the verse. This helps them connect the picture to waiting on God.
Take-Home Giving Jar
You will need an empty jar or box and a slip of paper for each child. Ask each child to decorate the jar and write one way they plan to share this week. They can drop a coin or a small note into the jar each time they help someone. At the end of the month, talk together about the kind things they did and what they might give to someone in need.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter teaches that wise living includes generosity, diligence, and humility. We cannot control the wind or the weather, so we work faithfully and leave outcomes to God, who knows what we do not. Solomon’s call to enjoy life is balanced by his reminder of accountability, which keeps joy from becoming careless.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that generosity guarantees material reward. Solomon speaks of uncertainty, not a promise that giving will always bring back a harvest. Help children trust God’s goodness and faithfulness without making their kindness a bargaining tool.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank you for giving us good things to share with others. Help us be generous and kind, even when we do not know what will happen next. Teach us to trust you with the things we cannot see, and to live in a way that pleases you each day. Amen.
