Ecclesiastes Chapter Eleven, Generosity

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. [2] Give your serving to seven, and also to eight. For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

The preacher begins by suggesting that the reader share willingly with many. He also assures the reader that once he has shared, he will find his “bread,” after many days, meaning his act of kindness will reap fruit. This principle may be found elsewhere in Scripture. We read, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart,” Galatians 6:9.

The apostle, two verses prior, informs his readership, “for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap,” Galatians 6:7. Then Paul contrasts carnal sowing with spiritual sowing, and the ensuing results from what we have chosen to reap. When receiving the Mosaic Covenant, God told Israel, “You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand,” Deuteronomy 15:10. The concept is further explored in Corinthians, where we read, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.

For the Christian we are to remember that our Lord told us, “Freely you have received, freely give,” Matthew 10:8. Our Lord advocated selfless giving, and giving without reservation. But the charitable giving of the apostles Christ sent out went well beyond money. As Peter explained to the lame man at the temple gate, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” Acts 3:6. The idea of bread in this passage certainly isn’t money or food; at least that isn’t all the preacher had in mind when he penned this. It was the giver himself. We are to spend and be spent in the service of others. For some this means money, others it means food, or clothing, or time, or whatever it is that meets the need of the person in question. And always, always, we are to be prepared with the true Bread of Life, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that others may have eternal life in Jesus’ name.

Verse 2 expands upon the first verse, simply encouraging the giver to give with greater liberality. But Paul included this simple but important caveat: “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have,” 2 Corinthians 8:12. In layman’s terms, we are not to give in a way that harms us and leaves our own family deficient, as the apostle goes on to explain in 2 Corinthians 8:13. As an individual or a church group, we give what is possible for us to give; nothing more is asked or expected, much less demanded. But first there must be the willingness of mind. This selflessness in a believer is born from and cultivated by the Spirit of God, esteeming others better than ourselves and loving our neighbor as ourself, Philippians 2:3, 4, Romans 13:9, James 2:8.

The preacher concludes with the admonition that we do not know what evil will be upon the earth. The Tanakh renders the verse, “for you cannot know what misfortune may occur on the earth,” a translation the NASB largely follows. Because of life’s uncertainty, and the fickle nature of wealth and material possessions, the preacher suggests spending it like currency, practicing kindness toward many when you are blessed with much, so when days of hardship strike, others who have been touched by your kindness may return it to you. Mind you, the preacher is not advocating indebtedness in terms of making someone feel obligated toward you; he is explaining that when we reap good to many, we will sow its blessing. Be a selfless, cheerful giver of whatever bounty God has bestowed upon you, and you will find it again after many days. If not on this earth, we do know the Father keeps an account of all such transactions that please Him, Matthew 6:3, 4.