Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
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.
The saved person does not always live righteously. However, righteousness always brings good.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Of course Jesus Christ is righteous. When the born again Christian is walking in the spirit his desire will be for good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath. The wicked are living under the wrath of God. Everything the wicked person does is under God’s wrath. Most people do not believe that. They do not accept that. However, this is what God says. Argue with Him if you like. You cannot win an argument with God.
In verse 24 we read that the one that scattereth gains. The Bible commands born again Christians to testify of Jesus Christ to all people. We are intelligently and systematically scattering the truth, and the truth will never return unto God void. A few will respond and be saved.
Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Verse 24 also refers to giving financial aid. The primary place for God’s people to give to is the local church. The local church should be the vehicle through which funds given to the Lord, should be distributed. Sadly, there are people who are always looking for a handout such as people that do not want to work but they want to travel or eat. The local Church is not a soup kitchen, nor is it a used clothing outlet. If there is a house fire, the local church might be able to help with clothing and other items for the short term. It should be understood that the first responsibility of the local church is to its members. The family of God gets preferential treatment because that is God’s design. Those who do not want to know God have no right to demand things from God when they face difficulties. God does use difficulties to help people see their need to turn to Him for salvation. He will also chasten His child.
There are people who blame God for their problems, but they do not know Him nor do they want to know Him. God is not the author of sin. Adam chose to sin. Every human being born of Adam also chooses to sin. We are all born as lost sinners, and because of that, we choose to sin. The solution is to be born again.
Holding a grudge against God will not help. In the end every person will answer to God. The wise person humbles himself and submits to God and knows His blessings. The fool despises God and rejects Him.
In verse 25 we learn more about the liberal soul. This is not speaking of being liberal in politics. This is talking of the generosity of the person. The liberal soul still uses discernment. It does not help to give money to a drug addict. It does not help to give groceries to a drug addict. They will turn around and sell it to get a fix. Discernment is important.
A saved person wants to help others. The greatest help we can be to others is to give them the Gospel and help them to see the blessing of knowing the true God. Many problems are dealt with when a person gets saved. That is not a simplistic answer. That is a fact.
The person who gives to the needs of others, will find help when needed as well. The book of Acts shows us this. The early church worked together as a community. They were poor. They were facing some trouble in the early chapters of Acts. The saints pooled their resources and they helped one another out. They were not a world food bank. They were there to help other true saints. Acts 5 shows us how God dealt with some frauds. They did not live long.
Those who are lost lack understanding of how things should be. They are generally very selfish and materialistically minded. They might even despise true saints. Those who are saved need to function under the love of God and seek to help people get past themselves and look at the truth.
By God’s grace we will be able to help a few to do that.
Pastor Bartel