Day 13 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "How Scattering Seed Brings Increase"
SELECTED SCRIPTURES & INSIGHT FROM PROVERBS 11:
Proverbs 11:3 (NLT), Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
We live in a world of deception and dishonesty. People seem to be all too willing to gain an advantage over others by being dishonest. The Great Recession of 2008 occurred, by-in-large, from dishonest motivations and greedy home loan lenders and borrowers. Bernie Madoff swindled his own friends and investors out of some $50 billion. Greed and dishonesty go hand-in-hand. In time, these behaviors destroy those who participate
Proverbs 11:11 (NLT), Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
The lifestyles of godly people always improve places where they dwell. When I visit my father's house in the inner city, I am always impressed with the appearance of my dad's little house. In fact, the street he lives on looks better than the other streets to the immediate east and west of dad's street. There are several believers on that street. The influence of "upright citizens" in any community always makes a positive difference.
Poverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV), There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Giving and generosity have always been a part of prospering God's way. Even though we scatter our seed, God causes us to increase. However, if we withhold too much, it leads to poverty. It does not seem logical that giving won't lead to lack, and failing to give does not help one accumulate wealth.
According to Genesis 8:22, there is a principle working in the earth called "Seedtime and harvest." I like to think of this as 1) Seed 2) Time, 3) Harvest. The text also indicates that life has cycles and seasons. When give our three "T's" (remember that lesson?), its like putting good SEED into good soil. After a period of TIME, we can expect a HARVEST.
I have witnessed this promise in my 53 years of life, over and over again, "And he who waters will also be watered himself." We are overly focused on what we get out of someone or something. We should be more focused on "watering" or nourishing and refreshing others.
"Lord, help me to maintain honesty and integrity at all times. Show me how sowing and scattering seed brings harvest increase, even though it seems like I'll have less for being generous."
ACTIVATION:
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
- How does giving part of what I have, help me gain more?
- What other verse(s) in Proverbs 11 stand out to you, and why?
- What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
COMMENT SECTION:
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