Ecclesiastes11:1-2 – “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.” NKJV

There are several possible interpretations of this passage and all plausible so let me offer some thoughts about stewardship not just generosity that I believe is being illustrated in this passage.  There is no question that the Bible instructs us to be charitable and generous regarding the needs of the truly needy.  God never forgets acts of kindness and generosity and the Psalms declare that “giving to the poor is lending to the LORD.”  In Luke we read that we are to “give and it shall be given to us…”  Therefore it is quite plausible that this is speaking of caring for needs that we see and I would never argue against that interpretation but I believe it is more than that.

I have seen interpretations that suggest this was being spoken to the farming communities along the fertile Nile.  The idea was that the time for sowing seed was when the waters were receding leaving incredible fertile loamy beds in which the seed could be deposited and the result would be a bountiful harvest in due time.  Thus, the farmer would receive a great return on his investment or seed.  That too is plausible but I believe it is more than that.

The reason I believe it is more is because of verse two, “Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”  I believe that could be rightly translated, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and speaks of stewardship, enterprise and investment.  If the entrepreneur shipped his bread (goods) via the water (rivers and seas) in due time the return on his investment would be great.  The words, “…for you do not know what evil (disaster) will be on the earth.”  Times change, situations change and conditions change therefore having all one’s eggs in the same basket could spell disaster but diversification could be a hedge against economic turmoil.  I believe that the writer of Ecclesiastes is teaching a lesson in economics which will enable one to hedge against economic downturns and provide the ability to care for their own and to have enough left over to care for the needy before them.

If you read the next verses you will get a glimpse of the danger of inaction further solidifying my belief that this passage is about more than just charitable giving and caring for the needy before us.  If we do not obey verses one and two then we face the dilemma of verses three and four and encounter the uncertainty of verse five.  The imperative is for action not idleness.  It is for stewardship not pie in the sky fantasy that you are responsible for nothing just sit and wait for God to drop portions from heaven for you.  I believe God will care for His children but I also believe that when He opens doors and gives us directives for stewardship we err and could be guilty of tempting God if we fail to act.   Remember the parable of the talents where one took his talent and buried it so he would lose nothing.  No risk, no gain!  His no risk mentality was not appreciated or rewarded and the master took his talent from him and gave it to the one that was a good steward and man of action.  God does not reward laziness or timidity but faith!

I believe deeply in the principle of “sowing and reaping” in all aspects of life.  I believe that if we give it will come back to us.  I also believe that God wants us to live in this world “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”  If we know to do good and do not do it that inaction becomes sin to us.  This is true in all aspects of life including economics.

May the LORD bless you and guide you in your walk of stewardship.  Blessings!