See what you can catch. Elsewise otherwise it is pure nonsense. Plain and simple.
I think you misunderstand the meaning of “casting your bread upon waters”.
To us, casting one’s bread on water seems to be rather wasteful (and stupid). Solomon wasn’t saying literally to toss slices of bread into a lake or into the sea. Unless you’re feeding ducks, that would be wasteful. What he is saying, in a poetic manner, is too be generous when you can, because you don’t know when you’ll be in need of someone else’s generosity.
For example - There was a person who, whenever they cleaned out their closets, world donate their unwanted clothes to a thrift store (that store then used the proceeds to help needy people suffering from cancer). Many years later, that person developed cancer and was unable to pay their bills. The thrift shop stepped in and helped them pay those bills.
Don't feel bad, for years I thought the same thing.
Love thy neighbor as thyself…
Many people think love is merely something they feel; an emotion. However, love is more than just a feeling; it’s a feeling and an action. Love is seeking out the best for another.
Do you love your husband? How do you express that love to him? Is it by saying "I love you" once in awhile, or do you express it in your actions towards him as well? Perhaps via a spontaneous kiss, or by preparing him a special meal on his birthday, or by allowing him time alone when he’s having a bad day. Do you still love him even when you’re mad at him? That emotion you feel after he tracks mud across your freshly cleaned floor isn’t what one would call affectionate.
How do you treat someone you dislike? Do you speak fondly about them? Do you do nice things for them? Do you flat out ignore them?
How do you treat yourself? Do you badmouth yourself? Do you treat yourself to nice things occasionally? Do you stand out in the rain without a coat? Wouldn’t that mean that you “love” yourself?
So, if you treat yourself the opposite of how you treat someone you dislike, wouldn’t that mean that you “love” yourself?
You asked, “How do I love my neighbor”. The answer is - the same way you love your husband. The same way you love your children. The same way you love yourself.
“Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, and never gives up.”
That's not what I was getting at. It doesn't say to, ‘love your neighbor as you would love your spouse or your children’. I was only using those as examples of love. Family love and brotherly love aren't going to be the same. A parent will naturally treat their child differently than they would other people's children. If 2 kids fall down and skin their knees, the parent of each is going to go to their child first. That’s the strong bond of family love. But it certainly wouldn’t be showing love if they laughed at the other child and said, "ha, ha! Serves you right!".
Remember the "do to others as you would have them do to you” quote? That’s what "loving your neighbor as you love yourself" means.
Shuhak 