1st March 2026

INTRODUCTION:

It is the plan of God that we, His children, prosper in all areas of our lives, but as we walk in divine wisdom, Proverbs 3:35, “The wise shall inherit {all honor & good}, but shame is the highest rank conferred on {self-confident} fools.”  This passage reveals:

1. Two Kinds of People: The wise and the fools.  These are two types of people in this world! Of course, we are who we are by choice. 
2. Two Kinds of Destinies: Honor and Shame. These two can be seen as a consequence of the kind of person you choose to be!The two destinies aren’t accidents but results of what we worked for.

  It is a mistake to expect a result/fruit {future} without paying attention to our action/lifestyle{today}. As God’s children, we are expected to live and walk in divine wisdom, which positions us for God–Intended lifestyle. Therefore, today’s sermon is titled; Wisdom for Prosperity!

Deut. 28:11, “And the Lord will make you Abound in Prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. ¹² The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.   

       To prosper is to Excel, Succeed, Flourish, Grow in good things, and become the best in what we have and do in life. Of course, God makes all these things to happen, but not without paying attention to certain things listed by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:1-2:

1. DILLIGENT EFFORT – “Cast Your Bread…”

No one is empty; God has given everybody atleast one thing that can aid our prosperity, I Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

        Solomon called what you have “BREAD” – It is yours, but not as food, but as seed; you must not eat it, but cast it. Our bread differs from person to person; Time, Talents, Service, Gift, Resources, Information, Strength,  e. g.

1. The wife of the Prophet, who had just a little Bottle of oil, II Kings 4:1-7.
2. The boy with 5 loaves & 2 fishes who gave what he had to Jesus, Matthew 14:17ff.
3. RIGHT LOCATION – “…Upon The Waters…”

The word “waters” in the Bible symbolizes different things, like life & blessings, Isaiah 44:3; Opportunities, dangers/judgment, Gen. 6-9; Large Group/Multitude of People, Rev. 17:15. You aren’t expected to throw your bread “ just anywhere” but to cast it upon waters! What does it mean? You are to invest or use your bread to help & bless others around you, like: Joseph, Gen. 40:6 & David, I Sam. 16: 18.

       To prosper, you must cast your bread upon waters, and your waters could be your family members, friends, or church. Waters are your opportunities for success and prosperity, provided you won’t hoard your gift and resources to Help, touch, and bless someone around you. Winston Churchill said, we make a living by what we get, BUT we make a life by what we give to others. 

• SET TIME – “…For After Many Days You Will Find It Again.”

The third thing to pay attention to, Prosper, is time. It is good to have Bread, and cast it to the right place, BUT it’s also good to note that Time is a factor we can’t overlook in the school of prosperity. Godly prosperity grows with time. Therefore, Patience isn’t negotiable for anyone who wants to Excel, Succeed and Prosper in anything. For example:

1. Joseph: He cast his bread/gift on the waters, and after two years it came back with Promotion & Honour
2. David: He used his gift on the waters of Saul, & later brought him into the Palace,

CONCLUDING INSIGHTS:

1. Be good and do good to the waters around you with no expectation for immediate reward.
2. Never waste opportunities by failing to Invest your resources, time, gift, or talent – It is a sure pathway to Prosperity.
3. Generosity is a wise investment that yields great dividends of prosperity over time, Gal. 6:7.

J. T. Oyebisi (Pastor) – FBC Ipaja Lagos