Generous Giver
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 11:24-25
Proverbs is the book of wisdom; however, this verse seems the opposite of the world’s knowledge. It says when you give, it will cause you to increase, and when you keep a tight fist, it will lead to poverty. Applying this principle to the natural laws of sowing and reaping seed and a crop makes perfect sense. You can’t get a crop without sowing your seed. Likewise, you’re not going to gain a harvest if you keep your seed to yourself.
So, the question is, what is your seed and what is your harvest? Well, your harvest is both! The Bible directs us to give the first of our “harvest.” For most of us, that will be our paycheck which is your harvest for sowing your time and talent.
We should ear-mark the first 10% of our income as our seed. A farmer knows that he needs to sow good seeds if he wants a good harvest. He’s not going to plant the “left-overs” and expect to receive a good harvest from a bad seed. However, we seem to think that it’s okay to do with God. Most people spend the first part of their paycheck and maybe give God something from what is left.
That isn’t honoring to God, and He certainly can’t bless you with the best when you haven’t sown your best. I know that tithing the first 10% is one of the hardest things to start. There is always something begging you to spend your money on. This is where your faith in God comes to play. As we learned last month, do you trust God and His Word? Do you actually believe His Word is real in your life?
God will bless a generous soul. Be faithful with your tithe and obedient to give to others in need as the Holy Spirit prompts you. In return, God will make sure the cycle of giving doesn’t run dry but increases for you and others. Amen?
Dear Lord, help me be obedient to give my first and my best. I pray that I am a generous person and willing to help others in need. Amen.
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