Ecclesiastes Chapter 11:1-2 are two of my favorite Bible verses. In these verses, "the Preacher" (King Solomon, David's son) tells us first, to cast our bread upon the water, "for thou shalt find it after many days." In verse 2, Solomon tells us to give "portions" to seven, and also to eight, because "thou knowest not what evil shall be on the earth."
Another favorite passage of mine is Luke 6:38, in which the Good Shepherd tells us:
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.
These two passages were written several hundred years apart, one by the son of King David (a man after God's own heart), the other by the Good Shepherd, who is Jesus, or Emanuel (God with us). So not only are these some of my favorite passages, but they relate to each other and complement each other even though authored by two different persons who were separated by several generations. Both scriptures teach us the same message. Both scriptures call on the believer to have a little faith, as well.
If you go to the water and cast in it your bread, or the grain seeds that you would have planted to harvest and then make your bread, what usually happens? When I read Ecclesiastes 11:1 for some reason I have always pictured a man standing beside the seashore. But I suppose any water will do, such as a river, a creek, or even just a small "fishing hole" on someone's farm. Whether you cast your bread into the sea or into the lowliest stock tank, what happens? The bread will float for just a minute, but soon is soaked with water and disappears beneath the surface. If there are fish in the stock tank, however, the bread will not have time to sink. Hungry little creatures will eat it all before the crust is even waterlogged. Same thing on the sea. Lots of hungry fish and birds will eat the bread or the seed before it has even soaked up any water. But even if no fish or birds consume the bread, and it slowly sinks into the depths, the person who cast the bread onto the water has taken a risk. He could have kept the bread and ate it rather than sending it to who knows where to be used by who knows whom.
But what does King Solomon, the wisest man ever to live on earth, tell us about the bread? He says we will see it again after many days! If you think about bread that has been reduced to a mushy paste by the water and then eaten by fish, common sense tells you that you have seen the last of that bread. Will it really return to you after "many days?" This is where your faith comes in. King Solomon said the bread would return but it might be a long time before this happens. It could be literally many days, or it could be many years later, which is still "many days." But the point is to be generous with what you have, and in "many days" you will be blessed yourself. A person of faith would be willing to share his food or other blessings with "seven, even eight." And we are asked to share a portion. I do not force anyone to accept my own understanding of this passage, but I believe that the idea of sharing a "portion" is being generous, not giving only a small amount with a grudging spirit.
I have to admit that many times I have "shared" my wealth by dropping a few coins into the Salvation Army collection pot or giving a dollar to a "transient." The "Preacher" tells us to cast our bread upon the water, but in the second verse he tells us to give "a portion." I take that to mean that he wants us to give an amount that would be helpful to us if we were on the "receiving end." Again, this is MY understanding, and I do not force this meaning on anyone. In any case, it becomes a matter of faith to believe that even if we give away "seven, even eight" portions, we ourselves will not only still have enough, but we will receive even greater blessings as well. But, how can I be sure of this?
In Luke 6:38, the Good Shepherd tells us "Give, and it shall be given to you..." This tells us once again that we should give to help others, and we should know by faith that good things will be given to us. It is the same thing King Solomon said, that "thou shalt find it after many days." But the Good Shepherd makes it clear that by giving generously we shall receive "a good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." There were cheaters in those days, just as now, so occasionally when people of that era went "shopping" and bought flour, seeds, or other bulky fare, the sellers were not always careful to see that the customer got a "good measure."
When someone bought flour, the less-than-scrupulous seller would simply fill the customer's vessel then send the customer on his way. But the customer soon found that the contents of the vessel had settled. Instead of a full measure, a "good measure" of flour, the customer received only a half to two thirds of what he had paid for. More honorable merchants made sure that the "measures" were "pressed down and shaken together." This kind of measurement gave the customer a full order. Some merchants found that it was "good business" to let the measure run over a little. Yes, they lost a little profit, but insured that the buyer would return many times to get that "good measure."
The Good Shepherd taught us to give by giving his life for us. What greater gift, what bigger measure could there have been? By His example, the Good Shepherd taught us to give generously. But to make it plain, He tells us in Luke 6:38 "For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." We should give out of our generosity and our love, our faith, not because we expect a reward. But, we are reminded too that with the "same measure" we give "it shall be measured to you again." So give generously, in faith and love, not in judgment and with fear that you will not have enough later. When you give in faith, that is to "cast your bread upon the water," you have no guarantee 1) when you will be rewarded for your giving; 2) what the results of your giving will be; and 3) if the person (or organization) to whom you are giving is really "worthy" of your gift. But those are really not our concern in giving. King Solomon and The Good Shepherd tell us to give generously, and we will be blessed "after many days" and in "good measure." That is what we need to know.
God bless you.
Another favorite passage of mine is Luke 6:38, in which the Good Shepherd tells us:
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.
These two passages were written several hundred years apart, one by the son of King David (a man after God's own heart), the other by the Good Shepherd, who is Jesus, or Emanuel (God with us). So not only are these some of my favorite passages, but they relate to each other and complement each other even though authored by two different persons who were separated by several generations. Both scriptures teach us the same message. Both scriptures call on the believer to have a little faith, as well.
If you go to the water and cast in it your bread, or the grain seeds that you would have planted to harvest and then make your bread, what usually happens? When I read Ecclesiastes 11:1 for some reason I have always pictured a man standing beside the seashore. But I suppose any water will do, such as a river, a creek, or even just a small "fishing hole" on someone's farm. Whether you cast your bread into the sea or into the lowliest stock tank, what happens? The bread will float for just a minute, but soon is soaked with water and disappears beneath the surface. If there are fish in the stock tank, however, the bread will not have time to sink. Hungry little creatures will eat it all before the crust is even waterlogged. Same thing on the sea. Lots of hungry fish and birds will eat the bread or the seed before it has even soaked up any water. But even if no fish or birds consume the bread, and it slowly sinks into the depths, the person who cast the bread onto the water has taken a risk. He could have kept the bread and ate it rather than sending it to who knows where to be used by who knows whom.
But what does King Solomon, the wisest man ever to live on earth, tell us about the bread? He says we will see it again after many days! If you think about bread that has been reduced to a mushy paste by the water and then eaten by fish, common sense tells you that you have seen the last of that bread. Will it really return to you after "many days?" This is where your faith comes in. King Solomon said the bread would return but it might be a long time before this happens. It could be literally many days, or it could be many years later, which is still "many days." But the point is to be generous with what you have, and in "many days" you will be blessed yourself. A person of faith would be willing to share his food or other blessings with "seven, even eight." And we are asked to share a portion. I do not force anyone to accept my own understanding of this passage, but I believe that the idea of sharing a "portion" is being generous, not giving only a small amount with a grudging spirit.
I have to admit that many times I have "shared" my wealth by dropping a few coins into the Salvation Army collection pot or giving a dollar to a "transient." The "Preacher" tells us to cast our bread upon the water, but in the second verse he tells us to give "a portion." I take that to mean that he wants us to give an amount that would be helpful to us if we were on the "receiving end." Again, this is MY understanding, and I do not force this meaning on anyone. In any case, it becomes a matter of faith to believe that even if we give away "seven, even eight" portions, we ourselves will not only still have enough, but we will receive even greater blessings as well. But, how can I be sure of this?
In Luke 6:38, the Good Shepherd tells us "Give, and it shall be given to you..." This tells us once again that we should give to help others, and we should know by faith that good things will be given to us. It is the same thing King Solomon said, that "thou shalt find it after many days." But the Good Shepherd makes it clear that by giving generously we shall receive "a good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." There were cheaters in those days, just as now, so occasionally when people of that era went "shopping" and bought flour, seeds, or other bulky fare, the sellers were not always careful to see that the customer got a "good measure."
When someone bought flour, the less-than-scrupulous seller would simply fill the customer's vessel then send the customer on his way. But the customer soon found that the contents of the vessel had settled. Instead of a full measure, a "good measure" of flour, the customer received only a half to two thirds of what he had paid for. More honorable merchants made sure that the "measures" were "pressed down and shaken together." This kind of measurement gave the customer a full order. Some merchants found that it was "good business" to let the measure run over a little. Yes, they lost a little profit, but insured that the buyer would return many times to get that "good measure."
The Good Shepherd taught us to give by giving his life for us. What greater gift, what bigger measure could there have been? By His example, the Good Shepherd taught us to give generously. But to make it plain, He tells us in Luke 6:38 "For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." We should give out of our generosity and our love, our faith, not because we expect a reward. But, we are reminded too that with the "same measure" we give "it shall be measured to you again." So give generously, in faith and love, not in judgment and with fear that you will not have enough later. When you give in faith, that is to "cast your bread upon the water," you have no guarantee 1) when you will be rewarded for your giving; 2) what the results of your giving will be; and 3) if the person (or organization) to whom you are giving is really "worthy" of your gift. But those are really not our concern in giving. King Solomon and The Good Shepherd tell us to give generously, and we will be blessed "after many days" and in "good measure." That is what we need to know.
God bless you.
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