Ecclesiastes 11:1 “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1 is one of those head-scratching verses that you, probably like me, read and WONDER what in the world does this mean??? I read it and think that for one to cast their bread of water means their bread is going to get wet and SINK. And you will not find it later!! Fish might find it, but you are not going to find it.
What the verse speaks of is TAKING A RISK. The verse speaks of a ship loaded with grain and is in a safe and secure harbor. While it is nice to have a ship loaded with grain and nice to have it in a safe place, SHIPS were not made for safe HARBORS! Our verse employs the captain to LAUNCH OUT of the harbor and take the loaded ship of grain to a new market and see what you can get for it!
As a reminder, we all fit into the parable to the talents found in Matthew 25. We each have received talents, and we have to decide whether to USE them or not. Using them is risky. Your INVOLVEMENT will EXPOSE your FLAWS. As you take the risk, you might FAIL. It is worth remembering that the parable in Matthew 25 tells of commendation for those who TRIED and is very condemning to the one who DID NOT TRY.
Check these very scary verses out:
Matthew 25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”
The master was angry because the servant was AFRAID. He called the one who would not take a risk wicked and lazy. What an indictment!!
In applying Ecclesiastes 11:1, I use the familiar NO RISK NO RETURN. I also use a quote from a NASCAR driver who said, “IF YOU DON’T TAKE A CHANCE YOU DON’T HAVE A CHANCE.”
Friend, “IF YOU DON’T TAKE A CHANCE, YOU DON’T HAVE A CHANCE!!!”
So, what is God prompting you to TRY? Let today’s verse for the date of November 1 motivate you to TAKE A CHANCE!!
Continue Strong sailing your ship (life) outside the safe harbor! Take a chance!
And remember to DATE THE WORD!