Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11:1-8

 

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.  Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.  If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.  He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

 

Much of the Proverbs deal with making sound investments in all areas of life, so it should not come as a surprise to seeing Solomon talk about such issues.  Jan and I built our marriage on investing in couples that had demonstrated love for one another.  

 

After we came to know Christ, we began to seek out couples that had a walk with the Lord, and learn from them how to love each other.  We also knew that it was God who provided for us and not me, so we waited till He provides the funds to buy something and choice not to allow our wants to control our buying.  We also learn many good lessons, such as often by the time we had the resources we no longer desire the item.  By not being driven by instant gratification we never allow a salesperson to pressure us, and would tell them, we always pray before making such decisions.  We also began our marriage tithing, even though we did not often go to church, and it was only later that we came to know Christ on a personal level.

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.  In that God's ways are much higher than ours, much of life is a mystery, but the council seems to be waiting for more understand of any area that is outside the norm, which will keep you from investing in things that have great value.

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.  Often, we need to just work hard and smart with the understanding we have on a matter for we do not know which will be successful.

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.  So, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.  Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 

What is success?  Could it be as simple as one who has an understanding of life on planet earth is a passing life, but that God has a plan for each of us to work and enjoy the things He has provided us?  That the memories of us will in most cases be short, and that time on earth is short, but all will be going into an eternal place basic on what we did with Jesus while on earth.

Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.  In my short life of 78 years on planet earth, I’ve never seen anger, such as is on display today.  Young people who have been taught from childhood that they were winners, all got chosen, all got trophies for being the best.  Now as young adults they must compete, they have to work and their or few trophies.  Anger will destroy a person, young or old, but applying whatever you have to work and a positive attitude, being grateful to the Lord and approaching each day wanting to serve and help others will bring many blessings.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice