“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” (Proverbs 11:24 ESV)
Withholding. Suffering.
Growing richer when giving freely may mean growing in wealth. God does bless some people with wealth so that they are able to give even more back to Him for the further spreading of His good news.
But it is certain that growing richer when giving freely will mean growing in your spiritual life, your closeness to God. Giving is our response to the many blessings He has given to us through Jesus. Giving freely is pleasing to God.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)
In Proverbs 11:24, we also see the consequence of not giving. Withholding will only produce suffering. Suffering can come in many forms. We are wired up by God to give as a worship response. So when we withhold, we go against our DNA, our identity in Christ. We experience joy when we do the will of God. Suffering will come as we carry our cross and follow Jesus. But undo suffering, as Solomon describes in this verse, comes when we rebel and choose a different path other than God's.
If you'd like to digger deeper on this subject matter, unpack the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. What is taught about giving freely and withholding in that account?
Where do you find yourself in this? Through prayer, how is God leading you to give freely?
Growing richer when giving freely may mean growing in wealth. God does bless some people with wealth so that they are able to give even more back to Him for the further spreading of His good news.
But it is certain that growing richer when giving freely will mean growing in your spiritual life, your closeness to God. Giving is our response to the many blessings He has given to us through Jesus. Giving freely is pleasing to God.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)
In Proverbs 11:24, we also see the consequence of not giving. Withholding will only produce suffering. Suffering can come in many forms. We are wired up by God to give as a worship response. So when we withhold, we go against our DNA, our identity in Christ. We experience joy when we do the will of God. Suffering will come as we carry our cross and follow Jesus. But undo suffering, as Solomon describes in this verse, comes when we rebel and choose a different path other than God's.
If you'd like to digger deeper on this subject matter, unpack the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. What is taught about giving freely and withholding in that account?
Where do you find yourself in this? Through prayer, how is God leading you to give freely?
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