Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast your bread upon the waters, / For you will find it after many days.”

July 16th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This verse is talking about throwing the seeds used to grow grain for bread into the water, not the bread itself. This practice probably came from flood irrigation in Egypt. Each spring, when the Nile River flooded over it’s banks, the farmer would stand at the edge of the flooded field and pour wheat or barley seed into the overflowing water. While it may have looked like a foolish thing to do, it was actually quite wise. The water would carry the seed out onto the field and deposit it. The planter saved a lot of extra time and effort by dropping the seed into the flood.

Solomon tells us, his readers, to take life as from the hand of God, and to risk a little, despite life’s storms and tribulations. Just like a farmer who takes a venture in faith every time he puts good seed into the ground, so we should be involved in ventures of faith in our own lives. As we go through this life, we are to be constantly looking for opportunities to spiritually plant what we have received from the Lord. Many times, perhaps most times, it will seem wasted, but God sees and often intervenes. Then one day, some of it will spring forth, vibrant and alive.

I love the story of British pastor, Taylor Smith, who had a passion for soul winning. At the end of his life, he was in San Francisco and after falling ill was taken to a local hospital where he died a few days later. A local American pastor named Philpott wrote of visiting him the day before he died. It was 11:00 at night, but as he reached Smith’s door and looked in, he saw a nurse kneeling beside Smith’s bed. The old pastor had his hands on her head, praying for her. Finally the nurse came out in tears and said, “That dear old man! I am the third nurse he has led to Christ today.” The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:6: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

“LORD, help us to sow many seeds today that yield new life.”