Every day someone is asking for charity or a loan. Does it do any good to be a generous person?
"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." Psalm 112:5
CONTEXT
The context of this verse is from a passage that celebrates the fear of the Lord and finding delight in God's command. If we are giving freely with the right attitude of honoring and reverencing God then He promises good will come.
LENDS FREELY
To lend something, especially money, often creates an opportunity to exploit the borrower, this was particularly true in ancient times where heavy interest was common. The one who honors God does not take advantage of people who God created and loved but sees opportunities to do good to others as service to their Father in heaven- God will not be any man's debtor he will do good in return.
JUSTICE
The second half of the verse reminds us of the need to conduct our affairs with justice, today we would say with fairness or nobility of character.
OUR PROBLEM WITH THIS
One problem is that we have our own time frame and want to see the return on the generous actions right away; but to Him a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day, (2 Peter 3:8). We can't do an act of kindness and then stand there watching the clock waiting for God. God wants us to prove him right by our faith in him and trust that he will do it.
God will not be our debtor nor will he be manipulated, he knows our motivations; he looks on the heart and if we lend to receive from God we will be disappointed.
Good comes, but what kind of good? We may be looking for good in one way but God intends something different. We can't expect to get a check in the mail because we give to charity. We might experience good in some emotional, or spiritual, or social way that can't be measured in cash.
THE BIG PICTURE
We should not focus on receiving good but on being the person who is good, generous and fair. The quality of character is a reward that is immeasurably better.
"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." Psalm 112:5
CONTEXT
The context of this verse is from a passage that celebrates the fear of the Lord and finding delight in God's command. If we are giving freely with the right attitude of honoring and reverencing God then He promises good will come.
LENDS FREELY
To lend something, especially money, often creates an opportunity to exploit the borrower, this was particularly true in ancient times where heavy interest was common. The one who honors God does not take advantage of people who God created and loved but sees opportunities to do good to others as service to their Father in heaven- God will not be any man's debtor he will do good in return.
JUSTICE
The second half of the verse reminds us of the need to conduct our affairs with justice, today we would say with fairness or nobility of character.
OUR PROBLEM WITH THIS
One problem is that we have our own time frame and want to see the return on the generous actions right away; but to Him a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day, (2 Peter 3:8). We can't do an act of kindness and then stand there watching the clock waiting for God. God wants us to prove him right by our faith in him and trust that he will do it.
God will not be our debtor nor will he be manipulated, he knows our motivations; he looks on the heart and if we lend to receive from God we will be disappointed.
Good comes, but what kind of good? We may be looking for good in one way but God intends something different. We can't expect to get a check in the mail because we give to charity. We might experience good in some emotional, or spiritual, or social way that can't be measured in cash.
THE BIG PICTURE
We should not focus on receiving good but on being the person who is good, generous and fair. The quality of character is a reward that is immeasurably better.
