Solomon, the wisest and richest man to ever live penned these words in Ecclesiastes 11, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”  What in the world does this even mean?!  

Some commentators (Trapp, Clarke, and others) think this speaks of generosity. Cast your bread upon the waters is to them a way of saying, “Give your material things to the needy in a way that might seem wasteful – as wasteful as throwing bread upon the waters, and you will be rewarded.” If this is the sense, the point is much the same: do something now for a reward that cannot be immediately seen.

In todays world this might be a 401k, the stock market, long term investments, etc.,..but this kind of giving is for self, not saying you shouldn’t plan for your future but the goal is not to trust in uncertain riches but to trust in God, the giver and sustainer of all of life.

Part of that trust is being generous to others with out time, talent and resources.

Jesus encourages the freedom of giving without the fear that we might become the losers in our giving.  Jesus reminds us in Luke chapter 6, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” (v.38)  Simply said, “you can’t out-give God”  -  that is His promise.

Within this context of Luke 6, it might mean extending forgiveness.  It might be showing mercy.  It might mean loving your enemies.  It might mean quit being so judgmental.  You see, Jesus knows that when we are free to give it frees us in an unexplainable way.  The apostle Paul expressed this sentiment in Acts, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the week.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (20:35)  How are you doing in your giving?  Giving of your time, talent, resources?  How are you in giving forgiveness, mercy and love to the unloveable?  How are you doing in sharing God’s truth in the spirit of love?

Jesus said “give” and “it will be given to you!”

Pastor Rodney