GENEROSITY

Passage: Proverbs 11:16-31

Key verse: 25

NIV

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(B)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(C)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(D)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(E)
    but he delights(F) in those whose ways are blameless.(G)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(H)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(I) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(J)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(K)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(L)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(M)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(N)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(O)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(P) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 (A)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and (B)violent men get riches.
17 (C)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who (D)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (E)will live,
    but (F)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of (G)crooked heart are (H)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of (I)blameless ways are (J)his delight.
21 (K)Be assured, (L)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but (M)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like (N)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    (O)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 (P)One gives (Q)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 (R)Whoever brings blessing (S)will be enriched,
    and (T)one who waters will himself be watered.
26 (U)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but (V)a blessing is on the head of him who (W)sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[a]
    but evil comes to (X)him who searches for it.
28 Whoever (Y)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will (Z)flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever (AA)troubles his own household will (AB)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AC)a tree of life,
    and whoever (AD)captures souls is wise.
31 If (AE)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Have you ever felt offended by another's careless words or actions and one thing led to another and a lot more damage occurred than ever imagined? You are not alone. We all make mistakes and have hurt others and have been hurt.

What if we believed that the offender was actually trying their very best, made an honest mistake, or were misunderstood? Trust is made stronger when we are generous rather than quick to condemn and point out faults. Being generous doesn't mean being a pushover, but it is being curious before accusing. It is responding with care rather than reacting. Even if people did wrong, a little generosity can leave open the possibility for restoration and reconciliation.

Jesus generously healed ten lepers, even though only one came back to thank him. Jesus fed, healed, and taught many regardless of whether they chose to follow him. Jesus invested in 12 disciples even though they would all abandon him in his most vulnerable moment. God gives generously and indiscriminately to all who seek him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be generous in my relationship with others. Help me not to be quick to judge or condemn.

One Word: Be generous