April 29, 2026

Business by the Book

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

As a boy fishing was an adventure. One time we were fishing for perch with nothing more than a shiny brass hook on the line of a toy fishing pole with rolled up balls of bread as bait. We caught many fish, but sometimes the bread would become so saturated with water that it would dissolve. I think of that dissolving bread each time I read today’s verse.

How can it be that many days after throwing bread on the water that it can be found? After just a few moments the bread would naturally break apart and dissolve or be eaten by hungry fish. Many days later, if it were found, the bread would not be good for eating. No thanks. In the human realm we would collectively utter “no thanks” to bread which has been in water for many days. Right?

This must then be speaking figuratively. In this chapter of Ecclesiastes Solomon uses things in the natural realm to teach spiritual truths. He speaks in the following verses of rain, fallen trees, wind, and sowing seed. These are things with which the readers of Solomon’s day would be very familiar. Spiritually the idea of casting bread on waters only to find it after many days is another way to verbalize the law of sowing and reaping.

If a person sows love they will receive love. Sometimes when love is given, it is as if that love is like bread being thrown on the waters. It dissolves and there is no way humanly speaking to receive back that love that has been given. The Apostle Paul mentioned this in II Corinthians 12:15: …though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.  He felt as though he had cast his love on the water, and like bread it dissipated never to return. However, that love did return, for as you read Paul’s letters he speaks much about the love that was bestowed upon him. The love you extend today may not be returned today, but after many days it will be. This is guaranteed.

Cast your bread upon the waters of life. That bread may be love, understanding, graciousness, truth, money, patience, or many other such things. It will return, but sometimes only after many days.  Luke spoke of this truth with these words, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38) Bread upon the waters makes no practical sense, but kindness to others does, forgiveness to wrongdoers does, charity to the unfortunate does, love to the unlovable does; these make sense. 

On your job, within your organization, when it comes to your actions of life, learn to cast your figurative bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days, guaranteed. 

Dr. William Howe