“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:25)
In this the Lord wants us to be liberal. The word liberal is associated with the attitude of acceptance, loose attitudes and broadmindedness in politics and culture. But in the Bible, it means generosity. And those who are generous will be made fat. While we may associate this with richness because we think largeness figuratively, it literally means anointed or set apart divinely for consecration and empowerment with spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purpose.
This Scripture, especially the second phrase is closely related to the promise of “give and it shall be given you” in Luke. “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) But in the first phrase of this Scripture the meaning goes beyond just receiving because one gives. Attached to it is the responsibility to be even more generous through an anointing or spiritual gift of giving. Paul mentions the spiritual gift of giving along with other spiritual gifts. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8) Paul exhorts those who have received the gift of giving to do it simply using the Greek word that means sincerely and bountifully.
We have the example of the Macedonian church Paul wrote about. “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” (2Corinthians 8:1-2) Paul was bid to go to preach the Gospel there in a vision. (Acts 16:9) Although in poverty, they were moved in love to help those in need and gave beyond their ability. “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” (2Corinthians 8:1-4) In my experience, I have found this miracle to be true. Those in extreme poverty have demonstrated generosity and liberality more than those with means. And God gives them that special gift that enables them to give.
The second part of our Scripture, “...he that watereth...” could be interpreted as he that quenches that thirst and fills and satisfies it can be applied to a desperate need, natural or spiritual that is satisfied naturally or spiritually. In this we do see the same concept of Luke 6:38, “give and it shall be given you...” It may apply to a natural need physical or emotional, a word of wisdom or support. It may also be applied to the spiritual need and hunger we experience for the presence of God in our lives. We have a promise that if we fill and satisfy that need in another, we will be filled and satisfied. It works hand in hand with being generous, not only of material things or physical things needed in this world, but of our knowledge, wisdom, prayer support, time and comfort that we have received of the Lord.
The world also has something to offer the needy, but it has no power nor ability to satisfy and fill them. It is only a Band-Aid that is temporary as are all things of the world. It may satisfy the giver, but those who are recipients are only helped temporarily, but not filled and satisfied eternally. What we have to give is of ourselves, but comes from the Lord and is divine, holy and eternal. Solomon wrote of the wisdom that God gave him, about his observances. And Paul wrote out of revelation. Both observe that giving from what God gives us, increases in us, what comes from God, be it physical and natural or spiritual.
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