God’s Word for Today 30 Oct, 2024 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. - Prov 11:23-26 ESV GIVING MORE, GETTING MORE The earthly and eternal destinies of the righteous and wicked are diametrically opposite. Firstly, in this world, the righteous person's efforts create goodness in the world. They are celebrated and appreciated for improving the lives of others (Prov 11:10). Conversely, the wicked with greed and malice generate misery. As a result, their death is often celebrated by the world. In short, seeking God produces good results, for both oneself and others (Prov 1:7). However, rejecting God leads to ruin (Prov 11:6). The second implication is about their eternal destinies. Those who sincerely seek after God will find Him (Mat 7:7–8), that is finding eternal life (John 3:16–18). However, those who reject God, continuing their sinful lifestyle, will find themselves subject to the wrath of God (John 3:36). Again, Solomon extols the virtue of generosity. The generosity of the righteous has its earthly benefits. Their kindness to others will be repaid, especially in hard times. “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”[v.25 NLT] However, those who are greedy or stingy frequently find themselves ignored during a crisis. He who recognizes God’s ownership of all things and commits to using material resources to help others will be blessed (Luke 6:38). This is crucial in the ancient world. Moreover, a greedy person might decide to hoard supplies, looking to profit from the desperation of others. “People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.”[v.26NLT] That would allow the hoarder to charge a higher price as grain became scarce. The result of this is common sense: the people would curse them for doing so. However, a farmer who sold his grain, even in a crisis, to those who needed it, would be praised. The apostle Paul reflects the truth of Prov 11:24 by writing: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:6–7). In commending the Philippian believers for their generosity, Paul promised, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). As a note, the motive of the righteous is not to gain more but to serve better for having more resources to serve Him more. Thus, it is giving more that we receive more, to serve God better. Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmg Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible Follow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio #gospellightfilipino #godswordfortoday #bookofProverbs