Cast Thy Bread Upon the Waters
In the book of Ecclesiastes we find this teaching: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). The associated scripture help says this: “This phrase has traditionally been understood as a metaphor to act generously to others without expecting immediate return and generosity may be repaid over time.” I love that idea—to literally cast bread into the ocean, we would never expect to see it again. To give bread to those in need we should not worry about getting repaid, but ultimately we will find that in the end we are. We should serve and love and do what is right without expectations of being repaid, though ultimately we will find that we are. President Monson used the phrase, for example, to teach that in missionary work “the seeds of testimony frequently do not at once take root and flower.” He related how he once received a phone call from someone who asked if he was related to an Elder Monson who had served in the New England Missio...