Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. Proverbs 11:24-26
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor .... He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:21, 31 (NASB)
Many will seek the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6 NASB)
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17 (NASB)
Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. Proverbs 21:13
Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22:9
It was said earlier in the week that the whole dynamic of a truly successful person is that of “treatment” and not “consumption.” What does this mean? We spoke earlier about being a “steward” of life rather than a “consumer” of life. This means that we don’t go about trying to use life but rather we go about serving it. The one who is a “consumer” of life is all caught up in “using” life. It is all about “consumption.” The one who is a “steward” of life is all caught up in “serving” life. It is all about “treatment.”
It is in our relationships with other people that these two dynamics have their greatest impact. The one who is caught up in consumption views other people either as a means to use or an obstacle to be removed. The one who is caught up in “treatment” views other people in terms of serving them, caring for them, and blessing them. So, a simple question to ask is: How do I treat
other people? This leads us to another important question: Am I a “getting” or “giving” kind of person?
Above is a whole set of Proverbs. Please read through them and write down things that stand out to you. What is the one thing that resonates the most with you? Finally, identify one change you need to make in your life in regard to “how we ‘Give’?”
God is extremely generous toward us. God cares about us and treats us very well. He has blessed us with blessings untold. As recipients of God’s blessings, we are called to be agents of blessing in the lives of other people. Truly “successful” people do not “use” other people, but rather “give themselves away” for the sake of other people.
Lord, your calling in my life is a high one and surely is beyond me. I guess that is the key, “getting beyond me.” Help me forsake my selfish ways that have led to my “using” other people. Deliver me from valuing “wealth” more than my relationship with you and the people you have put in my life. I come to you in worship and surrender. Your will be done in my life. Amen!
