SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1247
“Watering”
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. – Proverbs 11:25
My lawn is a metaphor for Scriptural truth. I don’t water it. I let the natural order of things take its course. During the dry season here in Florida, I have a dry, crispy, sparse lawn. During the wet season, it looks pretty good.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully… – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Some of us may choose to let our landscaping fend for itself but it is wrong for us to apply this attitude toward our fellow man.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. – Proverbs 3:27
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. – Hebrews 13:16
Our Father in Heaven is generous to us, and He expects us to be generous to others that He, by divine appointments, brings into our lives.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. – Luke 6:38
Generosity takes many forms, not just money. People may need someone to pray for and with them, a listening and compassionate ear, time to just be with them, a helping hand, food, clothing, shelter, a ride and so on.
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. – Isaiah 58:10-11
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. – Proverbs 19:17
Bringing blessing and watering as the author of Proverbs 11:25 describes does not have to be a huge affair, heralded in the nightly news. It is the small, everyday blessings we bring in every encounter with those around us in our every day lives that matter to God and bring Him Glory.
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. – Matthew 10:42
Whatever we do to bring spiritual and material blessing and water to others, is worship and we do it all as unto the Lord, for His glory.
Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. – Matthew 25:34-36
Many of us have been through many seasons of life ranging from poverty to living comfortably. We know what is like to have others generously bring blessings and water to help us through the lean times. The Lord wants us to remember those times and when riches increase, He wants us to not set our hearts on them.
…If riches increase, set not your heart on them. – Psalm 62:10
Our Father is our provider, Jehovah -Jireh. Everything that we consider to be ours is His that is entrusted to our care as stewards of His provision, to be used and administered faithfully as He directs.
May we faithfully administer His provision, bringing blessing and generously watering those in need.
May we hold loosely the things of this world and take hold of that which is truly life.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Sword of the Spirit 