If I am generous, will I be rewarded? Does the Bible teach that?
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
This Bible Verse is a promise.
GENEROUS
A generous person blesses others by giving liberally, but generosity is not just giving stuff to others; there is an accompanying generous spirit. If you give someone what they need and it is done with a complaint, a frown, or an ungracious attitude, then it is not done in God's Spirit. To be truly generous comes as much from the heart as it does from the wallet for "God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7. God looks with favor on the attitude of cheerfulness in giving.
PROSPER
The word, prosper, is associated with an investment that pays off, so the idea in this verse is that the giver receives not just equality but liberality. There is an idea, too, that being generous is a loan to God.
REFRESHES
This is an action word. To refresh is to meet a physical need, like giving a cup of water to thirsty. The person who refreshes is one who not only says they will pray for you, or they wish the needy to be cared for, and then they do nothing themselves- the generous person is the person who actually does something.
WILL BE
The word, will, occurs twice in this verse; it gives double emphasis. It is like saying the generous person definitely, absolutely, utterly, and completely will be prosperous. There are no maybes in this verse.
REFRESHED
You have received so that you can, in turn, give, both in the world's goods and spiritual blessings. God often deals with us in the same manner and measures we deal with others. Jesus himself said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38.
We have been given many blessings and riches in the gospel of Christ, and since we are being made in the image of God, who loved and gave sacrificially, we ought to be generous.
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
This Bible Verse is a promise.
GENEROUS
A generous person blesses others by giving liberally, but generosity is not just giving stuff to others; there is an accompanying generous spirit. If you give someone what they need and it is done with a complaint, a frown, or an ungracious attitude, then it is not done in God's Spirit. To be truly generous comes as much from the heart as it does from the wallet for "God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7. God looks with favor on the attitude of cheerfulness in giving.
PROSPER
The word, prosper, is associated with an investment that pays off, so the idea in this verse is that the giver receives not just equality but liberality. There is an idea, too, that being generous is a loan to God.
REFRESHES
This is an action word. To refresh is to meet a physical need, like giving a cup of water to thirsty. The person who refreshes is one who not only says they will pray for you, or they wish the needy to be cared for, and then they do nothing themselves- the generous person is the person who actually does something.
WILL BE
The word, will, occurs twice in this verse; it gives double emphasis. It is like saying the generous person definitely, absolutely, utterly, and completely will be prosperous. There are no maybes in this verse.
REFRESHED
You have received so that you can, in turn, give, both in the world's goods and spiritual blessings. God often deals with us in the same manner and measures we deal with others. Jesus himself said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38.
We have been given many blessings and riches in the gospel of Christ, and since we are being made in the image of God, who loved and gave sacrificially, we ought to be generous.
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Adron 5/31/14
(c) Adron
