Casting Your Bread

Casting Your Bread

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1

June 30, 2006—
Years ago, there was a phrase that was used quite often: "Bread upon the waters." You do not hear that much any more, mainly because people no longer practice its truth. I have commented before on the loss of a Biblical vocabulary in our present culture, but the problem is beyond that. The phrase comes directly from the verse of Scripture that is listed above: Ecclesiastes 11:1. Few preachers refer to it in any message, and even fewer people quote it. That is a great shame, because Ecclesiastes 11:1 has a lot of meat that could help us in our day-to-day lives.

Once upon a time, in a mystical land that time has forgotten, people helped one another, whether they knew each other or not, without seeking recompense. Folks knew that if you did a good deed for someone, then that good deed would come back to you, normally when you needed it most. Sound stupid or too goody-goody for you? Well, it’s not. Ecclesiastes 11:1 was more than just a nice little verse hanging upon the walls of one’s home. It was much more than that. It was a motto that people lived by.

When one would cast their "bread upon the water"—their money, time, whatever was important to them—in order to help another person, they knew that it would come back to them. Many times it was over and above what they had given. It was similar to the "law of sowing and reaping" as is found in many other places in the Word of God. Yet, "casting your bread" was more of a promise of blessing, than a warning.

Many times when people did something for another, whether stranger, friend or family member, they would refuse any kind of payment, and reply that it was "Bread upon the waters", because they knew that sooner or later, they would need help of some kind.

Today, we live in a much more selfish culture. We do not trust folks. We don’t have time to waste on the problems of others. The fact is we have a variety of reasons for not being kind, generous or helpful—like the Bible commands. We would rather concern ourselves with what’s ours, and let the Devil take the hindmost. Frankly, we do not care.

I have been in situations before, when I desperately needed some help. For example: a few years ago, I had a tire to blow out on me while coming home from work. It was January, cold, and raining. Needless to say, I was not having fun! I pulled up in a church’s parking lot, and proceeding to try to change my tire. I succeeded, but with the dropping temperatures, the rain, it took a while. The thing that amazed me most was that dozens of cars passed by me, and would stare at me as if I were some roadside attraction! But, none offered to help. I guess a bald-headed guy with a beard and in his late twenties is too dangerous looking for most people! Maybe I should have been wearing a towel on my head. No, then I would have been reported to Homeland Security.

My point is that one day, those folks that passed and didn’t bother to stop, or offer any assistance, will one day need help of some kind as well, and it will not come. Like it or not, that is what Ecclesiastes 11:1 teaches. Good or bad, or nothing at all—it will come back, and more often than not, kick you in the head. My apologies to the late Dean Martin.

Whether you realize it or not, we are all casting something upon the waters of life. You maybe casting good bread, bread that is precious to you, but you part with it anyhow, because someone else needs it. Then again, you may be casting old, moldy bread. Or, you may be casting rocks, claiming that it’s bread. Regardless, we are all casting something upon those waters.

Whatever we cast, it will come back to us. Sometimes it’s exactly what you had cast, no more, no less. Other times it comes back two-fold, sometimes one hundred-fold. But, it always comes back.

Some people refuse to help others in any way, shape or form, because "No good deed goes unpunished." That maybe true for the idiot that is unappreciative. However, the person that you help and are kind to is not the One Who writes the paychecks!

You do not have to be rich or poor to obey Ecclesiastes 11:1. Just kind.

We need a revival of kindness and generosity in America. We have lost that in our homes, churches, cities and towns. If all of this is foreign to you, then start out with little things, like holding doors open for folks. Speaking to strangers with just a hello and a smile. Eventually, you will find yourself doing unbelievable things, and your family and friends will things that you’ve been brainwashed. Maybe, but with the Word of the Almighty.

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1
By D. Ray Perdue, Jr.
© Copyright 2006 Ray Perdue
Thank you for reading.

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Biblical Descriptions of Love

1. Love is a commandment. John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
2. Love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Rom. 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
3. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Rom. 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
4. Love is the catalyst that gives meaning to speaking in tongues, to prophesying, to understanding, to faith, to charitable works, and to self-sacrifice. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
5. Love is kind. 1 Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
6. Love is greater than faith and greater than hope. 1 Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
7. Love is the fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
8. Love is the bond of perfectness. Col. 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
9. Love is of God. 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
10. Love is living according to God's commandments. 2 John 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

An Interesting Analogy - Cell Phone vs. The Bible

Cell Phone vs. Bible

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our Cell phones.....

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets???
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it???
What if we flipped through it several times a day???
What if we used it to receive messages from the text???
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it???
What if we gave it to kids as gift???
What if we used it as we traveled???
What if we used it in case of an emergency???
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version???

Something to make you say hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, and where is my Bible?

IS HATE A BAD THING???

(This article was posted on News With Views and I thought it might have an interest for some of you who read my blog - allow me to make a disclaimer - although I receive the News With Views articles, I don't necessarily agree with all the opinions of the authors - eat the meat and throw away the bone!!! Click on the above title to read the complete article.)

What would America be like if more people were spurred into action because they hated:

• Porn
• Divorce
• Lies
• Dishonesty
• Adultery
• Broken homes
• Child Abuse
• Law breaking
• Injustice
• Abortion
• Evil
• Thievery

Instead, we are taught to tolerate it, to accept it, and to even codify into law things that we should hate.

Gal. 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Truth is Hate to Those who Hate Truth!!!

That’s it, isn’t it? Truth. No one wants to hear the Truth. Truth brings conviction. Conviction brings guilt. Guilt brings shame. Shame brings remorse, remorse brings repentance.

If we are ever to recover our moral equilibrium in America, then we are going to have to make the decision to love the things that God loves and hate the things that God hates. Because of the ongoing confusion in the Church, America loves the things that God hates.

How to Pray for Your Children and Grandchildren

Pray...

1. That they will be saved early in life.
2 Tim. 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2. That they will develop a hatred for sin.
Pslm. 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

3. That they will be caught when guilty.
Pslm. 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

4. That they will be protected from evil in each area of their lives: spiritual, mental, social and physical.
John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

5. That they will have a responsible attitude in all interpersonal relationships.
Dan. 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

6. That they will respect the authorities in their lives.
Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

7. That they will desire right friends and be protected from wrong friends.
Prov. 1:10-11 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

8. That they will be kept from the wrong mate and will be saved for the right mate. 2 Cor. 6:14-15 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

9. That both they and those they will marry will be kept pure until marriage.
2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

10. That they will actively resist Satan in all circumstances.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

11. That they will be singlehearted--willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.
Rom. 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

12. That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places--and that wrong people will not find them.
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

A cross That is Not the Cross of Christ

"The religious boom of recent years has given us more Christianity, but it is worth less. Religion has become popular. Thousands of uninstructed and bewildered persons have accepted Christ, but they have not a remote idea of the true meaning of the Cross.

1. They are not penitent.
2. They evince no real fear of God.
3. They have not separated from the world.
4. Their psychology is pagan.
5. Their ambitions are carnal.
6. Their lives empty.

They turned to Christianity because it was at the moment the popular thing to do. They innocently believed what they were told and did what they were urged to do; but tragically they accepted a christ that is no Christ, and a cross that is not the Cross of Christ."

The above quotation is by A.W. Tozer.

(This statement was made almost 50 years ago since A.W. Tozer died in 1963; how much more true is it today??? The Christianity of today is nothing like it was in the early years of the church. The early Christians shook the world, and turned it upside down..... today, the world is rapidly moving toward snuffing out any existance of Jesus Christ. Many christians have been deceived by Satan and his false teachers..... many Christians are simply waiting for Jesus to return to take them home...... but there are many Christians still faithfully standing for Jesus Christ, still seeking the lost and pulling them from the flames of Hell, and still faithfully serving the Lord in obedience to His word.)