Ecclesiastes 11:1 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Ecclesiastes 11:1

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Faith is a completely unknown idea to many people – to trust him whom I have only heard of, to believe in Calvary and that God will receive me on the basis of his promise. Here we find arguments to help us overcome our reluctance to exercise faith. It is a beautiful illustration taken from the practice of the day which the farmers had learnt by years of experience. ‘Cast your bread’ – the seed which you sow – ‘upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days’ – when harvest time comes and that seed returns to you many times over. The best time to sow for those who lived near some great water course was when the river was still in flood and burst its banks so that the fields either side were under water. So it was that when the annual flood waters of the Nile began to recede, they cast their bread corn, their cereal seed, upon the flood waters because, as the waters receded, they left behind a rich alluvial soil in which the seed could germinate and grow. What seemed like a waste of precious seed was in fact a skilful way of distributing it which ensured that a good crop would follow later. A degree of faith was required in making this system work. The seed, which an inexperienced person would conclude had been thrown away and wasted, would be returned to its owner in the form of a fertile crop that sprang up from the previously flooded ground. Someone who did not know would say, ‘What are you doing? What a waste!’, but if you did not do that seemingly wasteful thing, you would have no crop.

Application

Solomon uses this figure to teach us how to exercise faith and to encourage us to overcome our hesitation in trusting in God. You did not personally see him on earth, but you have the record in Scripture. You did not see the miracles, or his death on the cross in taking our eternal punishment for sin; you did not see it any more than one who casts seed can see what happens to it, but you must trust. This word is your warrant. ‘I believe the promises of God. I will trust in him and yield.’ To the outsider it seems to be a waste to worship God, to keep his day holy, for are there not more pleasurable things to be doing on our day off? It seems a waste to repent of all those sins that are the spice of life and make it worth living, and it seems a waste to give up living for ourselves and accumulating all the substance we can in this world. Why should we tithe what we have and give the best part of what we gain to the Lord? All these acts spring from faith, but to the unbeliever they seem to bring only loss.

The illustration teaches us that faith always appears this way to the outsider. Faith from the perspective of the non-Christian involves loss of what is precious, but from the perspective of the one who loves God it involves gain, because God will supply a spiritual harvest in return. Just as the farmer receives a wonderful return for his sowing, so the Christian receives the gift of eternal life and pleasures for ever more at God’s right hand. To the outsider the Christian life seems a misery. What is that new convert doing throwing their life away? He doesn’t understand that without God he has nothing. What would happen if you kept the seed back and did not sow it? How much you will get? A few loaves worth maybe, but certainly not enough to see you through the following winter. The farmer takes advantage of the wonderful multiplication process that comes through planting his seed. You don’t get much from self-determination, if you take your life and do not sow it for the Lord.

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Ecclesiastes 11:1 Commentary and Bible Study