“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:25)
The Lord throughout Scripture admonishes us to give. “Give, and it shall be given unto you...” (Luke 6:38) We must give in order to receive. This spiritual law is as real as gravity is a law of nature. Even the unbeliever believes in this law. The rich and the wise know this law and live by it, giving not of a liberal soul, but because they know the law of reciprocity.
This law works automatically whether it’s done out of a loving or liberal soul with good intentions to help or bless or done in order to receive something in return. In this age of technology, the law of reciprocity is widely used in advertising in the media and in TV. You recognize it. Every advertisement is offering a “free” gift with the purchase of whatever it is they’re selling. Some are even slicker. They offer the “free” gift, then offer their product separately, but it’s based on the same principle. You feel obligated to purchase.
To a child of God, the law of reciprocity works the same way, but the intention of the heart is different. Proverbs 11:25 states that the “liberal soul shall be made fat.” First, we have to know that the soul is our mind, will and emotions. A liberal soul is a blessing soul. It has the mind to bless others and will bless at any opportunity to bless as an emotional response to need. This emotional response comes from a heart that loves others and places others first. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
Paul goes further in Corinthians. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” (1Corinthians 10:24) We find it easier to give of our excess and as long as it doesn’t infringe on our well-being. But it’s harder to be liberal when it would mean neglecting ourselves. Is this taking the concept of giving too far? When we take into account the words of Jesus, I believe He is taking it so far, it’s hard for our thoughts to process it into our lives. “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matthew 5:39-42) That’s the perspective from which Paul is coming. When I reflect on this, I admit that I don’t know anyone or any organization that follows the precept that Jesus taught. Give with no attachments, even when the taking from you is with an evil intent. Even the most charitable organizations have rules. But that’s not Jesus’ precept.
There is another spiritual law related to giving. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2Corinthians 9:6) It not only matters that you give sacrificially, but the return is based on the quantity. This is relative and Jesus taught us that when He pointed out that the widow, although she gave little, she gave all she had. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:41-44)
If we can take away anything from this lesson, it’s to give whenever the opportunity presents itself with no rules attached. And to allow the Holy Spirit to work on our hearts and souls to come to the place that to give sacrificially is to obey Jesus.
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