Cast Thy Bread

Cast Thy Bread

by Patrica Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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

Casting stands for giving. Waters represent troubled humanity. And bread is your money, your time, your talent, your love, your faith, your life — your very being. Whatever you give, it should be an act of your love and of your faith.

There are a lot of troubled people in this world: those who are depressed, discouraged, down and out, poor — destitute of so much that we take for granted.

The Example of Dorcas

Acts 9:36
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Dorcas used her talent for sewing to help those in need. And when she died, the widows showed Peter the coats and garments she had made for them.

Listen, we, too, can give. And the reason we can give is because God is our Source. Without God we would not have a source for giving. It is God who gives us strength, gives us health, gives us a job, gives us time.

Many make out that they do not have time. Yet they have time for foolishness, such as finding time to sit down before the computer and play games, when that time could be used in reaching out with their talents, reaching out with the Gospel message, reaching out to those who are poor and needy.

Time spent on foolishness could be spent in prayer — seeking God for the anointing, seeking God to move through one's life — to where we are like an artesian well, providing nourishment to those we reach out to.

Many pray, "Oh God, use me! Use me!" But in the back of their minds, they desire to be used because they want to bring glory unto themselves.

Now, when it comes to giving, many have the attitude: "Don't touch my wallet! Don't touch my bank account!" But if you're going to help troubled humanity, you're going to have to give: give of your money, your talents, your love, your faith, your time — give of yourself.

Get in the place where when God calls on you, regardless of what He asks of you, you are willing to drop everything to obey His voice.

It might require your money, your time, your talent: such talents as sewing, carpentry or electrical work. Those talents can be a blessing to someone in need.

If your mother's roof needed repairing — because water was coming in and damaging the ceilings, the floor and the furniture — and she was unable to hire someone to put on a new roof and repair the damage, what would you do? If you loved your mother, you would rush to her aid, even if you had to go to the bank and take out a loan. You would see to it that she had a new roof and that the water damage was repaired. Yes, you'd do that very thing, wouldn't you?

What about those in need who are not family?

You could be used to lead someone to Christ or to encourage someone to go on with the Lord. It might be cooking a meal, bathing someone who can't help themselves, or doing their laundry.

(If you cook a meal for someone that is sick, I hope you know how to cook, or they might get even sicker!) If you don't know how to cook, you could buy a roasted chicken or some other cooked meal from the deli.

There's so many things you can do to help troubled humanity. Even in the church there are those who are in dire need, those who are depressed and in need of encouragement. Just a call on the phone can encourage them. Ask how they are and pray for them; encourage them and strengthen them.

"But I have too much to do! I don't have time for anything more." Yet when you really want to do something, you make time for it. There are women (and men are just as bad!) who find time to run to the sales. It doesn't matter what hour of the night or morning it is, they'll be there.

Why can't we run like that for Jesus? When we do it for troubled humanity, we're doing it as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Why give thanks? Because it is God who gives the resources; Who gives the strength; Who gives the talent, the health, the job, the money.

Giving with Wrong Motives

Luke 14:12
Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

This is what happens. Some get upset and complain because they invited someone to their home, over and over, and have never been invited in return.

Well, if you take this scripture verse to heart, it should keep you from getting upset. Whatever you do in word or deed should be done as unto the Lord, and you should be thankful that He enables you.

Luke 14:13,14
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

The types of people mentioned here have no way of giving in return. Many don't even have a home. This is what it's all about: When you give, you should not expect it back from the one you gave it to.

When you give, you shouldn't have the attitude that you're always giving to them: "Why can't they give something to me?" If this is your attitude, your motives are wrong. You shouldn't give to receive back, but give as unto the Lord.

The Example of Job

In The Book of Job we find a good example of one who knew how to give:

Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

Job heard the cry of the poor, and he came to their rescue. Those types of people are written off — nobody else will help them. They're considered as the offscouring of the earth.

Where is the love of God? Where is His compassion? What if God had said that about us? What if He had acted like some of us about His giving, about His time, about His love? We would never have salvation and everlasting life.

I thank God He has a people, amongst a people, who have a heart that will not look down on others but will reach out to them. These types of people have their time involved, their talents, their money, their love. Their very self is given over to helping those in need.

You might be living pretty high today. You might have a beautiful home, beautiful furniture, a nice car, but it could all vanish in a split second. Job lost everything in one day. And it wasn't because he was sinning either.

So don't have the attitude, "As long as I'm comfortable . . . as long as I have heat in my home, a good job, nice clothing, plenty to eat."

Job 29:12,13
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Job helped the widows, causing their heart to sing for joy. He also helped the fatherless.

Take an interest in the fatherless: Give them Bible lessons; tell them about salvation; give them a nice meal; buy clothes for them (underwear, shoes and socks, mittens and boots, a warm jacket, whatever they need). These things will certainly be a blessing to them.

I don't believe Dorcas held back. A memorial of her giving is recorded in the Word to show us that this is what God would want of His people.

Job was also concerned about his own children, lest they lose out with God. He was a man who spoke with God, and the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him.

Job 29:15
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

When you see a need, reach out and do what you can to be a help and a blessing.

The blind can't sit down and read their Bible, so a talking Bible would be a blessing to them. Perhaps you could help them pay their bills, go to the grocery store for them, read to them, share the Gospel with them, and show them their need of receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Job was feet to the lame: He went places for them. The elderly often find it difficult to walk about. Being feet to them would be such a help and encouragement.

Yes, this account of Job reaching out to the needy is in the Scriptures for a pattern and an example to us.

Job 29:16
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

"I'm not going to search to find someone in need, not even amongst God's people. Forget it!"

You don't want to find out because you don't want to use your time, your money or your substance to help someone else. What if you were the one in need? What would you want God to do for you? Would you want Him to forsake you? To cast you aside?

Or would you cry out: "Lord, I need some help. Send someone along to give me a helping hand. I am not able to do this. Please send me some help!"

Maybe those souls in Job's day were crying out like this for help.

Remember, we want to be in the place where we're filled with the power of God, that when someone is sick or in need of deliverance, the power of God will be there to set them free.

When you have the anointing in your life, have the gifts of the Spirit, you'll be able to reach out to those in need and minister to them with those gifts.

But, I'm going to tell you something: It takes time to seek the Lord, praying that the anointing might flow in and through you to the needy.

Job 31:16-18
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (for from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb)

Job didn't want to miss anybody. He didn't want to pass by anyone in need.

I believe that from a child Job had compassion for the poor and the needy. He was brought up amongst people who didn't have as much as he had, and he was concerned for them.

Job 31:19,20
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep

No wonder Job was so blessed. You get in the place where you cast your bread upon the waters, and you, too, will be a blessed person.

Job 31:21,22
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

Job knew! He knew he had done the right thing. He knew he had fed the poor. He knew he was a father to the fatherless. He knew he was a help to the needy. He knew he had caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Yes, Job knew all these things, and he wasn't afraid to talk to the Lord about them. (Now, don't pray like Job did here, because I don't think any of us are in the place that he was in.)

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:30-31
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Where is the love and compassion of God? This is like a lot of people today. If they see someone wounded on the street, they walk right by them, maybe even kicking them as they pass by.

Sometimes, someone with epilepsy might fall down on the street, and those who see them think they're a drunk. "Oh, it's just a drunk. Let them lie there. Who cares?"

Don't overlook anybody in need. If the occasion arises, take time to help — even if it is a drunk. Try to set them up and minister to them. You might not be able to get through to them, but at least try.

In this story of the Good Samaritan, we see the priest didn't want anything to do with this man who had been left by the road to die.

And, often, there are those religious people who will pass by the down-and-out, while reaching out to those in fine clothing, those who have money, those who have prestige. They don't want those who are poor, those who are in dire need, those who are down and out. They don't want anyone coming to their church who is dirty and smelly.

I can remember "old Fred" at the little church in Pennsylvania. The church was heated by a pot-bellied woodstove, and old Fred would come in and warm himself by that stove. Fred was an elderly man who wasn't saved when he first came to church. He'd come in with his old, stinky clothes on, and stand by the stove. Soon the heat would make the place smell strong.

But the people had a love for Fred's soul. He kept coming to church and one day gave his heart to the Lord.

Now, if they had looked down on him and had given him no attention, what would have happened to him?

Even though he had an odor, people shook his hand and showed love to him. They were trying to win him to the Lord. They didn't put him out because he brought such a bad odor into the church. They'd stand and talk with him, treating him like they would anyone else: for God tells us that to be a respecter of persons is a sin (James 2:9).

God is no respecter of persons. He saves those who are dirty, as well as those who are clean. Usually, after salvation, those who were once dirty get cleaned up. They want to take a bath and put clean clothes on.

If we had pushed Fred away, looked down on him, laughed at him, where would he be today?

Luke 10:32
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

People can be nosy. When something happens, they want to see: even running down the street, just to see what's going on. But just being nosy and looking on doesn't do anything for someone who is in dire need.

You'd have thought this religious leader would have reached out his hand to do whatever was necessary to help this man. But he did just as the Levite had done: He passed by without stopping to help.

Luke 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

Jesus is our example. He was moved with compassion, time and time again. He fed the multitudes because He was moved with compassion. He was concerned that they wouldn't faint in the way. He didn't want to send them away without food.

Yes, Jesus was moved with compassion: healing the sick, touching the leper, delivering the demon possessed. Yet, compassion is just what so many lack.

Luke 10:34
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Notice, he had time to stop and help this man. He could have been like the other two: looking down upon him, passing to the other side, and going their own way. But he took time to bind up those wounds and pour in oil and wine.

How many times God's people say, "I can't give because I might need it for myself." Stingy! No concern about anyone's welfare, whatsoever. Some, probably, could sit and watch someone die from starvation without even giving them a bite to eat!

But the Samaritan didn't hold back. He didn't think if he used his wine and oil, then he wouldn't have any for himself when he needed some. It doesn't tell us where he was going when he passed the man lying on the road. We don't know what his plans were. But he took time from those plans to set this man on his beast and bring him to an inn, seeing that he was taken care of.

You parents: As long as you're able to baby-sit your grandchildren, as long as you can buy them clothes, as long as you can take them out to eat — as long as you can do these things — your children really want you. But when you get too old to help out, they soon disappear. They no longer know you exist. They fail to remember how you yourself went without to raise them.

Children soon forget all this. All they're interested in is what they can get from mom and dad. Later on, they look for the day when they can throw mom and dad into a nursing home and write them off. Don't you try a trick like that, because what you sow you also will reap.

Was God stingy with you? No, absolutely not! Why, then, should you be stingy with what He has blessed you with?

Now, a generous soul will prosper. We've seen this. Those who start giving their tithe and offering to the Lord, as He has prospered them, soon find His blessings upon their lives.

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

When we cast our bread upon the waters, there's a time when God will return it to us. It may not come back on the same wave we sent it out on, but it will come back: in God's own way, and in God's own time.

Proverbs 22:9
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.