Boat Buoy, oil, 11×14, click for larger view.
Boat Buoy, oil, 11×14, click for larger view.A few posts ago I mentioned chumming. It was one of the points in What I Learned about Life from Dad’s Fishing, which said, “When chumming, be extravagant.” Chumming is the strategy of throwing bucket-fulls of very small fish over the side of an ocean-going fishing boat to attract big fish. If the fisherman don’t do it, chances are slim that any fish will come their way.
So often, if not always, illustrations from the natural world also fit in the spiritual. And here it is in Ecclesiastes: Cast your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it again.*
Why “bread” I don’t know, unless it was bread that was lacking. That’s how it works.
One time, many years ago, in the midst of a particularly challenging time financially, I was moved in my spirit to give away my boat. “What? My sailboat?” It was a beautiful mahogany-hulled racing sloop that I’d long loved. But we were going through a life change and moving to a place where it wouldn’t be useful and when I asked what to do with it, this is what I heard in my mind, “Give it away.” So after a moment’s wrestling, and checking with Anne, I committed to go through with it. We donated it to a worthy cause which sold it and used the money.
We were no poorer for doing it, and possibly a good deal richer in the soul. It was years later that it began to dawn on me that every time I came near water, whether lake, river or ocean, a boat was provided for our pleasure and for however long we wanted to use it.
I could wonder if the translation should have been, “Cast your BOAT upon the waters and after many days . . .” except I’ve seen this reality happen in many, many ways, both tangible and intangible. It’s got to be the best of all investment strategies.
Funny how it can be so scary at the front end.
All it is is a risk!
All it requires is faith!
(That’s real faith . . . the action kind.)
“But what if I get it wrong?” I ask. “What if my motive is selfish?
Seems to me we’ll never get those motives completely pure. A certain self-interest is built into every one of us . . . and built into the promise.
“But what if it doesn’t work? Then I get no big fish and all the little fish are gone, too!”
Yes, doubt undermines. If doubt wins there will be no chumming at all. And no big fish.
Giving costs. Spreading the bread involves faith. We’re dealing here in the invisible world where our physical eyes don’t serve. In fact, they work against us.
Who can say what’s really going on in the invisible world? Except this: “Not nothing.” Behind the scenes the tiniest detail matters, nothing goes unnoticed, and after many days, every investments receives return.
You can bank on it.
Get spreading some bread.
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*Ecclesiastes 11:1
Next: Vows and the Work of Our Hands. Coming Friday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
11:55 am
I love it, Hyatt. Agreed, When our five children were young it seemed as though cleaning out closets was a constant activity. I never felt like “selling” any of the children’s items, so things were always given away. Always within days or weeks we’d receive a shipment of beautiful children’s clothing from a sister, sister-in-law, or a friend who had a high end children’s boutique. I did not give in order to receive, it just happened. This seems to be God’s economy.
12:11 pm
Many years ago, my father paraphrased the King James version of this verse as: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days, buttered.”
2:00 pm
Well said. Exhortations are so good when they arise out of authorial experience! I especially like this: “It was years later that it began to dawn on me that every time I came near water, whether lake, river or ocean, a boat was provided for our pleasure and for however long we wanted to use it.”
2:43 pm
Where I grew up in a small village in an agricultural setting, all would be considered below the poverty level now, there were those who always had something to give to others – every one took care of the others and no one was the poorer for it. I recall a more prosperous neighbor would clear out their closet and give us a box of like new clothing which we would then share. In fact, some of those clothes were still with me in college! So, I think that is one aspect of “casting your bread on waters”.
6:19 pm
I signed up for this site because I am a fan of Hyatt Moore the artist. Now I’m a fan of your writing as well. Well said.
7:05 pm
great concept. we all have a boat in our lives that we could give away if we appreciate this principle in the Christian faith
8:22 pm
You can’t outgive God. He owns everything. When I hold back it’s a reflection of my fearfulness, not His graciousness. When in doubt, give anyway.