Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
–Ecclesiastes 11:1
We often live life with our hand firmly closed, afraid of what opening it up may leave us with.
We hold onto people, places, and things because they are precious, fearing that if we loosen our hold, we will be left with nothing.
I have battled with learning how to open my hands, letting God give and take as He sees fit. There have been relationships I have fought against God over, clenching my hands, not wanting to give them up. The same has happened with resources. I’ve been reluctant to give time or money because then maybe I wouldn’t have enough.
Today’s verse speaks to this selfish nature and unwillingness to trust God.
Ecclesiastes is a book packed full of lessons we must wrestle with, and this verse is no exception. Here, we are told to cast our bread on the waters — to open our hands and give of our resources to others.
We are to be generous with what God has given us. Yet, He doesn’t leave us empty handed. The second part of the verse tells us that we will find abundance again after many days.
When we live with open hands, we give freely of what we have, trusting God to return to us what we need.
Prayer
Dear God, Please teach me to live my life with open hands, trusting You to sustain me. Help me to remember that all good gifts come from You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
In what area of my life do I need to learn to live with an open hand for God to give and take as He sees fit?