Cast Thy Bread Upon The Water


 

Scripture: (Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV)  Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.  Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.


Let us never take the Word of God so lightly that we think we know all that it has to say to us. For the Word of God goes deeper then the mind can comprehend and is sharper then any two edged sword, able to separate even the spirit from the soul. At first glance and on a superficial view of the above passage one would consider it to be a verse concerning commerce or trade. I know I have heard it told how these words talked about the corn traders who would send their crop off by sea and wait for the profits to return unto them. And the part about give a portion to seven and also to eight simple talks of diversifying your portfolio as to be covered in case of any unforeseen loss. Taking these great words just at that level alone would be enough for a full lesson on financial responsibility and good stewardship but I believe that God wants us to even dig deeper and discover the riches that lie just below the surface of wisdom.

Yes, yes, we can take the easy road and talk about how casting our bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days talks of doing good deeds as to reap later rewards. Why even my good friend Charles Spurgeon spoke of the need for us to not be weary in well doing but to continue to cast our bread upon the waters for great reward awaits us all. Jesus spoke time and time again about how we reap what we sow. We read in the book of Luke how the more we give the more we shall receive. (Luke 6:38 KJV)  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

OH, yes, work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt and dance like nobody's watching.

We have heard the story of the Scottish farmer named Fleming who heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. Running to the water he found a boy struggling in the muck and mire for his life. Farmer Fleming helped the boy out saving his life. The next day a fancy carriage pulled up and a finely dressed nobleman came and picked up his son, who the farmer had saved. The nobleman offered to reward the poor farmer but being both humble and proud he would not except anything from the rich nobleman. The nobleman then noticed the farmers son and made a deal with the farmer to pay for the boys education. Wanting the best for his son the farmer agreed and his son went on to the best schools in the land. Years went by and the nobleman son becomes deathly ill of pneumonia. It was discovery of penicillin by none other then Sir, Alexander Fleming, the farmer's son, that saved the boys life. And the boy who was saved by the farmer's son was none other then Sir Winston Churchill.

That story and many others can illustrate how we are all rewarded when we cast our bread upon the water and do what we have been called to do, yet it still does not get at the depth of the heart of this word. Why? Because if we look at it in this manor then it is just all about us. What will we get if we do this. What is in it for us. Me, me, me, me. Can we get over ourselves for just a minute. It is not about us it is , or at least it should be, about Him. It, my friend is all about Jesus. And when we remember that then all the rewards in the world do not amount to a hill of beans, for when we see Him we will throw our crowns at His feet for He alone is worthy. So, what then about Him, or our relationship to Him, does this passage of scripture now reveal to you?

Listen again. Cast thy bread upon the waters. Even using the real example of tradesman sending their goods off to market by sea we can see how there is no turning back. Once that ship is set sail if your goods are on it anything could happen at that point. The ship could be lost at sea. A storm could put the ship aground on some island. Pirates could come and overtake the vessel. Or it could just make it to market and bring you back a bigger profit then you imagined. Sometimes we hesitate to put our faith completely in the LORD. Sometimes we will just sit along the shore of faith holding onto our bread and giving thanks for it rather then casting it upon the water. I think what God is telling us today is to go for it. step out on faith. Believe in Him and do what he has called you to do. Go for it. Maybe you will end up burning some bridges, maybe those bridges needed to be burnt long ago. It is time you stopped trying to ride the fence of faith and either commit to follow the LORD or just be happy with the crumbs that have fallen from the masters table. You can either stand up and proclaim the name of Jesus or you can continue to wonder what if. What if you had only gone on that missions trip? What if you had only been a part of that church? What if you only did what you knew was right? What if? What if? What if? 

You know what I have discovered in the past and keep getting reminded of? You really can't trust anyone but the LORD. I mean even when you think you have got a friend, the one person who will not stab you in the back. What is the expression? Et tu Brute? Listen, please, There is so much more waiting for you if you would just cast your bread upon the water. Someone reading this today may have been wondering about this faith thing and how it works and even if it really does work. If you really want to know the only way to find out is to cast your bread upon the waters. I mean make a real commitment. Faith begins and ends, or rather, never has an ending in Christ Jesus. Why? Because He was, He is and He forever will be, the way the truth and the life.  So how then do you make that commitment real?

You start by realizing the truth of His love for you. That's all. He loves you, and He died for you so you would not have to face that darkness at all. Then He rose again from the dead and right now, even right now He reigns on high. How do you cast your bread upon the water? How do you strengthen your faith? The same way you would do anything in the physical. When you want to build muscle strength you work out. When you want to make a financial investment you put your money where your faith lies. Now, Stop right there. Too many people have used this verse of scripture to talk about money and tithing and prosperity blah, blah, blah... That is not where we are headed today so please seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. And that is the word I am getting at. Righteousness, Holiness, doing what you know is right and stop doing that which you know is wrong. Look you know it as well as anyone there is right and there is wrong. You, OK, we all have strayed over that line into darkness calling it a gray area when we all have deep down known it was the dark side. Some of us are still playing in that sandbox of death. It is time for real commitment. It is time to cast your bread upon the waters, burn the bridges behind us and step out on faith believing and living in the light.

I am going to close with the parable that Jesus told about the sowing of seeds. You may know it well. You can find it in the 8th chapter of Luke, the 4th chapter of Mark and the 13th Chapter of Matthew. You know how the farmer went out to sow some seeds. Some landed on the wayside and the birds came along and took them away. Some landed on stony ground and sprung up but because their roots were not real deep they soon withered and died. Some fell among the thorns and were choked out by the cares of the world. Then, some fell on good ground and brought forth fruit. It is sometimes like that, when we cast our bread of faith upon the waters. I know that some of you have tried to make a commitment in the past only to find that your roots were not real deep and before you knew it your faith was dried up. Yes you prayed and you prayed but the stuff in the world, you know just all the stuff that goes on in your life, it always gets in your way and the next thing you know where's your faith? What faith? Faith in what? and who? You? Right!

You know I use to think that that parable was talking about people and some people were just stony ground or some people were always going to be the wayside. Or like me, some people were always going to have their faith choked out by the cares of the world. But it is not. It is about casting the seed. It is like a fisherman who casts his net. If he doesn't get something the first time he doesn't give up, he casts again and again and again. The same has been true with your faith. God has been casting the seed of His word over and over and over and each time you hear a little more and you take in a little more and your faith gets a little stronger but now, now it is time for you to catch the word of God in the good soil of your heart and run with it. I mean with no turning back. Commitment. That means right now giving up that thing that you know has been interfering with not only your spiritual relationship but it most likely has been fouling up other areas of your life also. Make a commitment. I mean a real commitment. Burn the bridge and go after the gold crown.

But like I said it is all about Him. So start right here by asking Jesus to forgive you. And He will. You know He has already paid the price. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and give you a new reason for living. He is our reason to live. Ask Jesus to be your strength when you are week, to provide for you your daily bread, to lead you not into temptation but to deliver you. I MEAN REALLY DELIVER YOU FROM ALL EVIL. All power and authority has been given unto His name and from this moment on it is Jesus who dwells within your heart and it is Jesus who can give you strength over temptation and see you through the trials of life. Now it is time to rejoice. Now it is time to rejoice. I said NOW IT IS TIME TO REJOICE!!!!!! JESUS IS ALIVE AND HE LIVES WITHIN YOUR HEART. I mean to tell ya, I get so excited about it that I break the keys on my keyboard. Makes me want to Shout. HALLELUJAH, GLORY HALLELUJAH.

Praise His name. OK, I'll bring it back to a point of relevance for us and close. Cast your bread upon the waters. Go for it. Make an investment in the LORD and know that His word will not come back void. Give a portion to seven and also to eight. Keep on casting your bread. Keep on casting your net. Keep on casting your seeds of faith and it will grow and yield a great harvest onto eternity. I hope that God's word has strengthened you today. And even more I hope you, like I, have made a fresh commitment to the LORD. Together let's cast our bread upon the waters of life and receive life eternal in Jesus name Amen. I love you all. And God bless.