Proverbs 11:24-25
Thoughts from Katie Fox
Dive Deeper
“Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:24-25
Behind the Scenes
If you are really honest with yourself, how generous are you? Not just with money but with your time and possessions as well? God calls us as Christians to live lives of generosity, blessing others and amplifying the grace He gave us to our community. To be honest, I have a natural tendency to be stingy. When I was a little boy, I kept my best Hot Wheels cars at home and took my second-rate ones to school so I wouldn’t have to share my favorites with anyone. I did not, however, hesitate to play with the best of the other kids’ toy cars. There. I confessed. But God is not finished with me. What am I holding close today that He is asking me to share?
I had a friend who opened his home to someone who needed a place to stay until that person could get back on their feet. I know a couple who loaned their RV to a guy that had been displaced by a fire. I have a buddy who is always willing to help people with moves, projects, and car repairs. I know a guy who does well with his job and makes a habit of giving money to the church, charities, and other causes. These people possess a joy and peace and love that money absolutely cannot buy.
This proverb relates prosperity, wealth and refreshment to giving freely with great generosity. This is not a money-making formula that says you will get rich if you are generous but describes a spiritual wealth, a peace that comes from Jesus freeing us from a spirit of greed and stinginess. All we have, our talents, our health, our aptitude for work, our time, and our money ALL come from God. When we recognize that we are stewards of all that we have and that we can use it to serve our communities, it frees us from clinging to things that offer no true security.
Make it Real
We tend to be less generous with things that we feel insecure about. If we feel that we don’t have enough money, it might make us reluctant to share what God has given us. If we are super busy, we may resent people or events that make demands of time on us. When we let God free us from these chains of insecurity and selfishness, we discover a growing joy and generosity of spirit that is more valuable than the things we previously held close. Where in my life is God asking me to be generous?
Sometimes it is hard to see if we lack a spirit of generosity. It might be that we are generous in some areas but find that we are stingy in others. Pray to God and ask Him where He wants you to be more generous. Talk it over with Christian friends. There is nothing wrong with boundaries, but it takes insight to determine if a boundary regarding time, money and possessions is per Godly wisdom or stems from earthly stinginess.
Some people are spiritually gifted to be generous but others of us need to treat this as a spiritual discipline and let God’s Spirit work on us to build hearts tuned to generous giving of time and money. When you let God’s standard of generosity rule your life, you will find a lush freedom, peace and joy that is true wealth indeed. It’s even better than your favorite Hot Wheels car.
Johnny Spence
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
God, you give freely and generously to us. Work within myself, my family, my church, and my community to build a spirit of generosity that amplifies the grace of your Son Jesus to the world. Amen.