Give!

Give!

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered. 

The Context and Focus:

Again, we come to the book of one-line messages, where every sentence is a message on its own. Today's verse speaks to man in his natural, sinful nature. It is in the nature of man to seek to amass and acquire, because the world defines value in terms of what man holds, not what he gives out. Even the popular measuring indices of wealth all point to acquisitions, not charity. It is from what you have that you can give in the first place. This makes man pursue after wealth and acquisitions with a heart bent on any means necessary. This is why armed robbery, fraud, stealing, corruption and other vices will be difficult to stop or curtail, because it is man's natural tendency. Of course, the heart of man is critical to this conversation, because that is the place where all these desires come from. No one just does anything anyhow or at anytime, without first thinking about it. I need to submit my heart to the total control and influence of Jesus, if I want it to produce in line with what pleases God.

The Message:

It is also the same way with a heart that is ready to give. The word used in the verse above is 'liberal', which means 'of a free heart; free to give or bestow; not close or contracted; munificent; bountiful; generous; giving largely'. These are not careless or mere buzz words, but they come from a place of total surrender. I note that there is no precondition laid out for the liberal heart; it gives because the heart is not closed or contracted to the point where it has to see the benefit before it can flow out. Too many times, we do things because we want to be seen or appreciated, or because there is something to be gained from the gift, but the liberal heart here does not care about the benefit as much as the grace of being a blessing to someone else. There is a need to be met; a life to be saved or impacted. That is the focus first and foremost. Can I say, of a truth, that this is the motivation for all I do? Are there any selfish or self-serving interests in my heart that I need to deal with? 

The Conclusion:

And by God's special design, He will always give me what I can give out. No matter how little you think you have, you have something that can be a great blessing to someone else. I have to also note that God sees my heart and I cannot deceive Him. He knows the motives and intentions of my heart; therefore, whilst men may be applauding the generosity and the giving, there may not be any account with God for Him to bless in return. It is very important that as I ask God to bless me so I can be a blessing, I must make sure that I dispense His grace in line with His will. As God pours into me, He expects me to pour back into other people. That is the surest way to never lacking what to give, because my heart is not fixed to possessions, but on the God who owns all in the first place, and can dispense resources however and whenever He pleases to whoever He pleases. If I want more, I must give more. Only in God does a man get more when He gives, because God does not owe. If I obey Him, His promise is that He will bless me. Try Him today, and you will not be disappointed. God's time of favour is here.