Day 171: What does “Cast Your Bread on the Water” Mean? (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)

11 Cast your bread upon the waters, 

for you will find it after many days. 

²  Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, 

for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. 

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)

Through the Bible: Ecclesiastes 7-12

If you are like me, you have a lot of people wanting to give you advice on what to do with your money. How interesting that most of them are advising you to give it to them! Especially as we near retirement or are in retirement, we are targeted with lots and lots of investment advice. And whatever else you may get from this devotional, please be cautious with the advice you take. There are a lot of bad actors preying on senior adults!

It might surprise you to find this nugget of financial wisdom tucked in amidst all the meditations on life and death and meaning and purpose in Ecclesiastes. In chapter 11, Solomon advised his readers to “cast their bread upon the waters.” Conservative scholars interpret this as an encouragement to invest in overseas trade. “After many days” is a reminder not to chase after get rich quick schemes. Sound investing requires patience.

Solomon went on to encourage his readers to “give a portion to seven, and also to eight.” While some believe Solomon is talking about generosity and charity, the context suggests he is continuing the theme of wise money management, and therefore is encouraging diversifying one’s investments.

In the New American Commentary, Duane Garrett wrote:

To cast bread upon the waters is to engage in commercial enterprises involving overseas trade (cf. 1 Kgs 9:26–28; 10:22). Eventually the investment will pay off. “Seven” and “eight” represent a wide diversity of investments. Such diversification is necessary because it affords protection against unforeseen calamity in one or two of the enterprises. An English equivalent is, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

 Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 14, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 338.

We never know what disaster might come next. There are no “sure things” when it comes to monetary investments. And since much of Ecclesiastes is focused on life “under the sun” (that is, earthly matters), he counsels us to build what today’s money managers call a diversified portfolio.

Our finances matter to God. I am thankful that His Word speaks truth to every area of my life. Praise God that He even has a word for us about practical investing in His perfect Word!

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