By Pastor Josiah Kehinde
“The desire of the [consistently] righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath. There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], but a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it. He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him. He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident in his riches shall fall, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like a green bough. He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men—he gathers and receives them for eternity]. Behold, the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be recompensed on earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and wicked?”
Proverbs 11:23-31 The Amplified Bible
My dearly beloved in the Lord, the above scriptural passage, Proverbs 11:23-31, compares the righteous and the wicked and the generous and the greedy. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will be refreshed. People will curse those who hoard grain but bless the generous (verses 24-26).
In verse 28, however, it is interesting that generosity and righteousness are linked together. “Those who trust in their riches [those unwilling to share or to be generous] will fall, but the righteous [those who share] will thrive like a green leaf.” Here the greedy are contrasted to the righteous, not to the generous. A love of money seems to have a deep impact on our character
Brethren, the scripture encourages us to be generous with what we have been given, and Proverbs 11:25 explains that when we are generous with others, we are likely to experience generosity as well. The simple truth is that we should not give with expection of something in return; because our generosity does not return to us as quickly and obviously as we expected atimes. Rather, we should give to help others in loving response to God’s instruction to do so.
“Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 The Amplified Bible
“But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him? Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).”
1 John 3:17-18 The Amplified Bible
Beloved, when we are generous to others with what the Lord has blessed us with, God is pleased. While He is under no obligation to refill our wallets or bellies, He often finds a way to refresh us, sometimes materially, other times spiritually.
We should learn to shares with others with a smile and open hands, not minding our lack of resources, we should be encourage to live generously, willing to cheerfully share what we have with others instead of hoarding it for ourselves. As God leads and empowers us, we can be generous with what God has given us. Shalom.
I pray that the Lord will open your eyes of understanding, and grant you the grace to be a source of consolation to others in Jesus name, Amen.
I pray that the Lord will mercifully raise men and women of substance for you, to be of great assistance to the fulfilment of your divine destiny in Jesus name, Amen.
I pray that the Lord will strengthen you in the Holy Ghost for accelerated breakthrough and uncommon exploits in Jesus name, Amen!
• Pastor Josiah KGS. GPPM
+234-805-551-6088
pastorjosiahkehinde@gmail.com