Rainy Days
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
READ Proverbs 11:23–26
When small businesses in Tennessee were
abruptly shuttered in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, shop
owners worried about how to care for their employees, how to pay their
rent, and how to simply survive the crisis. In response to their
concerns, the pastor of a church near Nashville started an initiative to
supply cash to struggling business owners.
“We don’t feel like we can sit on a rainy-day fund when somebody else
is going through a rainy day,” the pastor explained, as he encouraged
other churches in the area to join the effort.
A rainy-day fund is money that’s put aside in case normal income is
decreased for a time while regular operations need to continue. While
it’s natural for us to look out for ourselves first, Scripture
encourages us to always look beyond our own needs, to find ways to serve
others, and to practice generosity. Proverbs 11 reminds us, “One person
gives freely, yet gains even more,” “a generous person will prosper,”
and “whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (vv. 24–25).
Is the sun shining extra bright in your life today? Look around to
see if there’s torrential rain in someone else’s world. The blessings
God has graciously given you are multiplied when you freely share them
with others. Being generous and open-handed is a wonderful way to give
hope to others and to remind hurting people that God loves them.
By Cindy Hess Kasper |
When has someone been open-handed with their time or resources with you? How could you do the same for someone in need today?
Gracious God, help me to be tenderhearted
toward the needs of others and show me how I can share Your love and
generosity with them. | | | | |
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs 11:25 declares that “a generous
person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” The
apostle Paul echoes this thought to the believers in Jesus in Corinth.
He writes to encourage them to fulfill their promise to provide a
generous gift for the needy church in Jerusalem: “Remember this: Whoever
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously
will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). He goes on to say, “Now
he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply
and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your
righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be
generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God” (vv. 10–11). Our generosity points back to God,
who provides all good things (James 1:17).
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