Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 11:24-26(KJV): 
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

Proverbs 11:24-26(Amplified):
24 There are those who (generously) scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it tends only to want.
25 The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.
26 The people will curse him who holds back grain (when the public needs it); but a blessing (from God and man) is upon the head of him who sells it.

Thoughts for the Day:

The book of Proverbs continues with its wisdom in the area of giving and receiving. In the Bible we are told that the way to receive is to give, just as these verses in Proverbs state. Many in the world do attain some wealth by saving their money. However, they stand the chance of losing it, if they do not apply another principle of Biblical finances; and that is the principle of giving. When we give to the work of God and to others,  the scripture teaches us that it is like sowing seed in a field which later will produce a crop that we ourselves will harvest.

2 Corinthians 9:6-12:
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.

Sowing and reaping is a very important principle in the Word of God. We must sow (plant) money into God's works if we expect to receive a harvest. The Lord gives us money for two purposes. We must have money for a living and to eat, plus money for giving. "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater" (Isaiah 55:10).

God expects us to keep money for bread, as well as seed for sowing. Those Christians who give it all away and then expect God to take care of them are violating this principle of keeping bread to eat. (Farmers kept grain to grind into flour for bread making, as well as some grain for seed to plant the next crop.) Some people give all their seed away and have nothing to eat, while others wrongly eat all their seed and have nothing to plant for the next harvest. We should have seed for both purposes.

After we plant a crop we expect a harvest; even so we should expect God to meet our financial needs when we have been obedient and have given of our tithes and offerings. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).

Our giving should also be to help our brothers and sisters whenever the Lord so directs. We must learn how to give by the Spirit's direction and not allow our emotions or sympathy to rule us. Until we have had these soulish areas renewed, we can still be influenced by Satan through them. God is not always sympathetic with seemingly good causes. We should not give mechanically to things because it has been our pattern in times past, but we should remain open to the Lord's direction for our giving as with all guidance. Sometimes the Lord may speak that we are not to give to a certain person or ministry. We need to be just as sensitive to the Lord's restraining voice as to His condoning voice. He may want us to give elsewhere.

If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will always have the desire to give because it is the nature of God to give. Greed and stinginess are from Satan. If we are truly committed to God, giving will not be a burden, but rather a joy. God is calling us to be committed to the point where if He told us to leave all and follow Him, we would not hesitate. We find a rich man in the Bible that could not make this commitment, and he ultimately missed God's blessings for his life. Let us be faithful in the area of giving and we shall never lack in the things we really need as that is God's promise to us.   If every Christian were obedient to tithe and give as God directed them; then, His true works would never lack the support they need. May we each give our share.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for all the blessings You have given to me.   Lord, help me always to be sensitive to give at Your direction. Let me be a blessing to others, as You have blessed me.  Lord, I appreciate all the help You have sent to this ministry.  I am thankful for the many who give of their finances. Bless each of them back in the form of their need. Lord, bless those who give in other ways too.   I am most grateful for the ones who take time to pray for this ministry. I know You will reward them also.  Lord, our greatest rewards will come when we get to heaven and we get to meet all the people that were touched by Your Holy Spirit because each of us gave and reached out to the lost and hurting. I know when we obey You in our giving that we shall never lack. Thank You for Your daily provision for all who are Your children.   In Jesus name I pray, Amen.