Cast thy bread upon the waters
Cast thy bread upon the waters
By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson
(AKA Aunty Evangeline)
Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.
The contemporary English version
Be generous and someday you will be rewarded.
The central message in the verse above is that being generous or kind to your neighbors is beneficial. why?
You find favor with God and with men. Favor with God because the bible says God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7-9
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Favor with man because proverbs 18:16-17 says
A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men …
There are different kinds of giving, some of them will be explained below.
– Tithe
This is (ten) 10 percent of your salary or income you must give faithfully every month.
Malachi 4:10 -11
– Thanks offering
This could be in the form of money or gifts to the church. You could add praise and thanksgiving songs and a dance.
Psalm 69:30
Luke 6:38
– Seed offering
This money you give as an offering to back a request you have placed before God
Psalm 126:5-6
2 Corinthians 9:10
Tithe
Malachi 4:10-11
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse: that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes
And shall not destroy the fruits of your ground: neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field saith the Lord of hosts.
The passage above gives encouragement to all Christians to pay their tithe which is 10 percent of their monthly income.
This is not an easy thing to do, because some months come with a lot of unexpected expenses and you might run into a budget deficit if you give your tithe.
The key or best thing to do is to remove the tithe first before drawing your budget or else you will not pay your tithe.
Another good thing to do is instruct your bankers to pay tithe to church account when your salary is deposited in your accounts
Paying your tithe faithfully has several rewards. You will receive abundant blessings from the Lord and rebuke the devourer for your sake.
The devourer brings in several unexpected expenses
– You are sick and your child or children are also sick. You will use over 30 percent of your salary for hospital bills.
– How do you survive for the rest of the month?
– If you pay your tithe faithfully God protects you from these unexpected expenses (rebukes the devourer)
Thanks offering
Psalm 69:39
I will praise the name of the Lord with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving
Luke 6:38
Give and it shall be given unto you! Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom…
The verse from Luke is saying as you give or cast our bread upon the waters, God give you favor among men (humans) and you receive unexpected gifts of cash and other things you need.
When you are blessed you must also remember to thank God with songs of praise that will magnify His name.
You can also give a cash offering to your church, orphanage, etc.
Seed offering
Psalm 126:5-6
They that sow in tears
Shall reap in joy
He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seeds, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring in the sheaves
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He that ministered seed to sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness both verses quoted above talk about sowing a seed in order to make a good harvest
Meaning, if you want a harvest, for instance of good examination results you must
– Learn hard and understand all topics treated
– Pray for wisdom to understanding and answer the questions
– And ‘sow a seed in monetary terms, as a student give whatever you can afford Gh¢20, Gh¢50 etc to God it is not the amount but it’s worth to you.
The poor widow in a parable give only two silver coins probably some gave 100 silver coins but still had 400 silver coins.
The poor widow gave all she had, And Jesus commended her for that. It is not the amount but its worth to you.
(Mark 12:42-44)
Give generously and it will come back you!!!
References
2. Oxford English Mini Dictionary
3. Google.com