"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself" (Proverbs 11:24-25 NKJV).
I have been reflecting that I have a choice. I can live by man's rules, which tell me to save, invest, and provide for myself. There is a certain amount of wisdom in this. But then there are God's rules, which say to throw everything I have into His treasury and trust Him for the outcome (see Luke 18:18-22; 21:3-4).
Paul and I have decided that we would rather live by God's rules. This may cause us to have some need at times as our Father teaches us to trust Him completely. After all, didn't Jesus allow the people to become hungry before He multiplied the loaves and fishes for them? But as we water others, pouring out what has been given to us to meet others' needs, we trust that we ourselves will also be watered when it's our turn to drink.
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV).
The Amplified says, "he who is wise captures human lives." We are privileged to offer ourselves and all our resources (financial, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) to capture a few human lives for Jesus. Some of them have been captured into our family by birth and others, we hope, through adoption. But what better way to spend ourselves that this?
I remind myself of this frequently when I look at my own natural resources of wisdom, energy, time, and money, and know that I do not have what it takes. I am glad that I do not, for then I have to rely on the One who gives me strength. And that is right where He wants me to be.
That's really good.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about the rich young ruler and how I've always thought, "Poor guy, how could he walk away from such an invitation from Jesus for such a minor thing as money?" I mean, really! He's been dead for a couple thousand years now, and he certainly doesn't have that money anymore. Then I thought, how many times have I done that exact same thing? How many times have I walked away from an invitation from Jesus because I didn't trust Him to provide for me if I did what He was asking?
ReplyDeleteIn line with this thread, here is a poem I found on The Point:
ReplyDeleteYou asked for my hands
that you might use them for Your purpose.
I gave them for a moment,
then withdrew them, for the work was hard.
You asked for my mouth
to speak out against injustice;
I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.
You asked for my eyes
to see the pain of poverty;
I closed them, for I did not want to see.
You asked for my life
that you might work through me.
I gave you a small part, that I might not get "too involved."
Lord, forgive me for my calculated efforts to serve you
only when it is convenient for me to do so,
only in those places where it is safe to do so and
only with those who make it easy to do so.
Father, forgive me,
renew me,
send me out
as a useable instrument
that I might take seriously
the meaning of your cross.
I would add one more stanza:
You asked for my family
that you might embrace others through me.
I gave you a portion, that I might not get "too overwhelmed."
Yes, yes. Exactly.
ReplyDelete