What Do You Trust? Money? Men? …?
Proverbs 11
24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.
27 He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
From Shapiro
28 Trust in your own power and fail;
Know your own limitations and flourish.
During the good times it is easy enough to give; there’s always a little left over you can spare. (Funny though, how some people never have enough!) Giving out of abundance, without sacrifice, requires no faith. However, giving when times are tough requires a certain humility. A dependence on something besides yourself. There is the stuff that real faith is made of. And therein is the paradox of giving: give freely and gain more - withhold and come to poverty. The only way this can be proven is through experience. Letting go of something when you think you need it to survive is tough. But, oh what a reward when this lesson is learned!
What is the outcome if you…
Trust in riches?
Trust in your own power?
Or
Trust God (and what He says)?
Be humble enough to turn it ALL over to Him?
Bottom Line
Tough times can be the greatest of blessing because we learn to give from the heart, not from abundance (which could be questioned as to whether it is really giving at all).
True humility, knowing God is ultimately in control anyway, allows us to give, to live, from a pure heart. Then, and only then, do we experience the true blessing of abundance.
And the foundation under it all? Love. His for us. Ours for Him and each other.
Thanks so much for checking out my blog and for posting it here on yours. I have thoroughly been enjoying my study of this wonderful book and have learned a lot since I started studying it.
It will be interesting to check out the info on this study, too.