"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
Proverbs 11:24-25
This was interesting to run across today. It is easy to think of so many things as being limited. Resources, time, sometimes even love. And yet, in actual practice, often hoarding (as the verse says) tends to make us poorer. In modern society we might blame it on inflation... but in the gospel perhaps we can see that it is more than that. Scattering kindness and goodness doesn't leave us without... it makes us richer in those things. As we care for others, God will ensure that we are cared for. God asks us to treat others as we desire to be treated... and I think all of us desire others to treat us generously. To help us when we're in need... financially, physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Today, let's work on getting out of the limited resources mindset. Not saying that we should ignore the prophet's counsel to get out of debt, or any other counsel... only that perhaps we should look at our lives and what we are hoarding and what we are sharing a little bit differently, and question the assumptions that we've made about what we can afford to share. It isn't just about money. Maybe even time works this way... as we give it to help others, we find more for the things that we need. Let's work on scattering a little bit more good in the world, and increasing the total. :)
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
Proverbs 11:24-25
This was interesting to run across today. It is easy to think of so many things as being limited. Resources, time, sometimes even love. And yet, in actual practice, often hoarding (as the verse says) tends to make us poorer. In modern society we might blame it on inflation... but in the gospel perhaps we can see that it is more than that. Scattering kindness and goodness doesn't leave us without... it makes us richer in those things. As we care for others, God will ensure that we are cared for. God asks us to treat others as we desire to be treated... and I think all of us desire others to treat us generously. To help us when we're in need... financially, physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Today, let's work on getting out of the limited resources mindset. Not saying that we should ignore the prophet's counsel to get out of debt, or any other counsel... only that perhaps we should look at our lives and what we are hoarding and what we are sharing a little bit differently, and question the assumptions that we've made about what we can afford to share. It isn't just about money. Maybe even time works this way... as we give it to help others, we find more for the things that we need. Let's work on scattering a little bit more good in the world, and increasing the total. :)
Thank you so much for that insight. I now see how I can give in different ways. Also I think that prayer for others is a way of giving.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. :) And thank you for your kind comment. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the hidden doctrine
ReplyDelete