whoever refreshes others will, himself, be refreshed." ... Proverbs 11:25
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That verse is probably in my Top Five Favorite of all Bible verses.
And where we make our mistakes? It's when we try to get ahead financially (and in other ways) without generously giving to others, first. And when we run around feeling all 'why aren't people refreshing me?' when we refreshed no one.
As God said, nobody's going to mock Him. There's no cheating allowed, you know, taking short-cuts, making-up bright ideas, pretending we're obeying or trying-out worldly ways yet expecting God to rain down the happy promises upon our heads.
After all, it is in giving that we receive. It is walking in faith where we find our belonging place.
True givers live by this 'secret'. They know great joy and watch God meet their needs and live on a whole other plain than the hair-pulling, frustrated non-givers. To the fearfully selfish, living is Graceless, a constant battle, especially when they rewrite their beliefs to fit what they saw happen to their neighbors.
It's always a struggle for anyone trying to climb into blessings by some way other than the narrow gate which God made.
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"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it .But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." ... Matthew 7:12 -14
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Tony Evans @drtonyevans
If God is going to take you where He wants you to go, you can't be bound to where you've been.
Let the things of this world fall away so the soul can fall in love with God. -@AnnVoskamp
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There's waiting on God and there's also God waiting on us.
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There's waiting on God and there's also God waiting on us.
So true. Reminds me of that famous line from St Francis, "it is in giving that we receive...it is in dying that we live." Sometimes we "die" to personal desires in order to look around us and help those who are truly needy. I've never regretted helping someone...have you???
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! No, I've personally never regretted helping anyone, but oh my! Lately all over, I've seen people on Christian message boards who have. They appear quite angry after giving, saying they feel used by the people they gave to.
ReplyDeleteAnd really, that's hard for me to understand.
Our giving shouldn't come with strings, we should be led by God in our giving, know when to say no as well as yes, not expect to receive back from the same people we gave to (but trust God to bless us in other ways) and leave the results to God regarding our giving.
It seems so simple to me and I guess that's why my head spins by all the bitterness regarding this subject. Oh, to follow God and give freely and leave complication alone!
Thanks for commenting! Blessings, Debra