Three verses in Proverbs 11 address what has been called The Law of the Harvest (i.e. you reap what you sow).
• When you’re kind to others, you benefit yourself. (11:17)
• When you give freely, you gain even more. (11: 24)
• When you refresh others, you yourself are refreshed. (11: 25)
Conversely, Proverbs says that cruelty leads to trouble, and stinginess leads to poverty.
There’s no question that God wants to bless us; the Bible is full of such promises. But, first, God wants us to learn to give. That’s the key to the harvest: you give first, receive later.
Let’s forget for a moment how this may or may not apply to our finances, and think about how it applies to other areas of life.
There is so much you can give to others. For example, you can give your family an uplifting start to each new day. Even if you wake up in a rotten mood, you can speak words of encouragement and thoughtfulness (or at least put a lid on your complaints), so that everyone else in the house has the chance to begin the day pleasantly. The same goes for your employees, staff, and everyone else that crosses your path.
Let’s practice this kind of generosity. Regardless of the kind of day you’re having today, freely give a good day to everyone you encounter. Offer encouragement. Share a compliment. Say what you have to say with gentleness. Speak words of faith, hope, and love.
It won’t just change the direction of your day, it will change the direction of your life.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)
