Baptismal meditation, Fourth Epiphany

Ecclesiastes 11:1: Cast your bread on the face of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

We saw in this morning’s sermon Solomon’s image of casting bread on the water encourages a reckless faith, a willingness to act in spite of the risks. You don’t know whether your projects in life are going to succeed or not, and that uncertainty can be paralyzing. But Solomon tells us not to be paralyzed. Whether we are talking about investments in businesses, commitment of energy, or generosity, Solomon says we should just throw it out there, and trust that the kind and generous Creator will in His time return it if He wills.

Having children is one form of “casting bread on the water.” When a child is conceived, you have no idea what you are getting yourselves in for. Is she going to be handicapped or healthy? Is she going to be rebellious or pliable? Is she going to be athletic or a bookworm? Is she going to clash with the other children, or will she fit with the family? Do we have the money to add another child to the family? How will we educate her? Is this the best time to do this?

To have a child is either an act of irresponsible folly, or an act of the kind of reckless faith that Solomon commends to us. Just by having a child, you have acted in faith, casting bread on the waters without knowing where it will go. And my exhortation to you is to raise Olivia, and all your children, in the same faith. Just as you can’t determine or control the “best time” for having a child, so you can’t determine or control whether your efforts to train her will pay off, or how they will pay off. Make the effort anyway; expend yourself in serving her and training her; sacrifice for her; sow in her morning and evening; cast your bread on the waters and look for it to return after many days.

Christian parenthood is not a leap in the dark, however, and this is where baptism comes in. Having and raising children is casting bread on the waters, but we have assurance that it is not in vain. That assurance is not grounded in our own parenting skills, which are always dismal at best. That assurance comes from the promise of God, a promise embodied in the rite of water baptism. When in a few moments I pour water on Olivia’s head and declare her baptized, she will officially and formally begin to wear the name of the Triune God. She is being marked with His mark, branded with His brand, sealed with His seal. She belongs to the Lord Jesus, and He will see to it that His purposes for her are fulfilled. Trust Him, and teach Olivia to trust the Lord who made promises to her at her baptism.

Cast your bread upon the waters, but do it confidently, not hesitatingly, remembering that you cast your bread upon the waters of baptism.