Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (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.
In my younger years I would ponder this verse and think it odd. With images in my mind of feeding ducks at the pond, I knew full well that scraps of bread not immediately consumed would become water-logged and sink. So how could soggy bread ever be found again after many days?
As we mature, and as we seek the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding of scriptures, we begin to see things we never saw before. In Solomon’s wisdom he used bread as a metaphor for wealth and belongings. This passage speaks clearly of making wise investments and the uncertainties of life. On one level, it is possible to identify this passage with potential profits in return for wise placement of investments. Giving a portion to seven or eight brings to mind the old adage of not keeping ones’ eggs all in one basket. Yet I believe we might find something even deeper to explore in these words of wisdom.
Wealth is not always tangible. No one can measure the joy in one’s heart or the love one has for others. Happiness is not really something you can weigh out with measures. What if these are the investments we should be making? What if it is the true Bread—the Word—Jesus we should be sending out far and wide? What if we are to be investing in the Kingdom of God, and to do so in every aspect of our lives? We do not and simply cannot know what the immediate future holds for us, nor the length of days we have left to serve our Heavenly Father. What we do know for certain is that when we invest ourselves in others—be it in faithful prayer, small acts of kindness, encouraging words, written notes, or other means of generosity—the return for our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom will be great. Perhaps this is the best method of casting bread.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us in wisdom and understanding. Thank you for your Word to bring meaning and purpose for living in the fullness of Your mercy and grace. Abiding in You we learn that no prayer is too small, no concern is too great, no time spent in Your Word is ever wasted, and no act of kindness is ever unimportant. May all our energies, talents, and abilities be invested wisely in your soon-coming Kingdom.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The
devotional Casting Bread
appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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