Cast Thy Bread
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
Intro: This verse has been a primary source of motivation for me. I have claimed this verse; I have watched this verse become a reality in my life on hundreds of occasions.
Time would not permit me to tell the stories that demonstrate the truth in these verses.
I. The Bread
This bread is a picture of:
A. The Living Word
- John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
- John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
- John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
- John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
B. The Written Word
- Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
When we cast our bread, we are sowing the seed; the bread of life.
By the way – you’re casting YOUR bread.
This is a picture of a personal testimony; sharing something YOU’VE personally experienced!
II. The Believing
Casting thy bread UPON THE WATERS.
What an odd expression. Who throws good bread on the water?
Nobody, unless they are feeding ducks.
But this verse is clear – casting thy bread upon the waters.
Casting is what sowers do to seed.
What is Solomon referring to?
A. The Unsaved
FIRST MENTION PRINCIPLE: Waters – Genesis 1:2
The waters are a picture of that which is dark and void and without God.
B. The Unknown
You can only see the surface.
No idea what lies underneath.
When you cast that bread, you have no idea where it will go
C. The Unpredictable
Stories abound of people putting a message in a bottle and it shows up halfway around the world.
Do not underestimate the importance of BELIEVING!! Faith is key!
SEE verse 4-6 of our text:
- 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
- 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
- 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
We don’t always know what will happen, or when it will happen, but we cast our bread BY FAITH!
III. The Bounty
A. The Promise
Don’t put a “maybe” where God put a “shall.”
If God said it, you can take it to the bank!
Psalm 126
- 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
- 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
B. The Patience
There is a hitch to this whole process.
You have to wait for it! … for thou shalt find it after many days.
- Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
You don’t know when, but that bread you cast, you WILL FIND IT!
Conclusion:
I read a children’s book as a child that used this verse in the story.
I will never forget it because the author took the liberty to brag on God a little bit.
The storywriter added one word to the end of the verse.
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days – BUTTERED!
I remember going to look up the verse in my Bible.
Then it occurred to me why the author did that.
When you give something, it comes back better than before.
You sow seed, you get a whole bunch of seeds.