The Paradox of Generosity - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - May 14, 2025
"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell." Proverbs 11:24-26 (NIV)
In this world, one of the gods we serve is money. Let me be clear: Money is important. All of us need it to buy goods, make a living, and survive. But to the world, money is about saving, storing, and protecting. We can never have enough, and just when we think we do, we don't.
On the other hand, the Kingdom of God asks us to see money in a different light. Anything we're blessed with in this life comes from God. But we're most blessed when we give those blessings away. When the world says acquire more to have and hold, the Bible asks us to give and share with others.
On the surface, it sounds like a paradox. How can giving all that you have lead to gaining more? Jesus explains this concerning salvation in Matthew 10:39: "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it" (NIV). God's economy doesn't always make sense, but true blessings come when we bless others with what we've been given.
Side Note: I'm not saying that you need to give everything away that you own. Jesus wants you to be able to take care of yourself, your family, and your essential needs. But what I am saying is that Jesus wants His followers to have the heart of generous givers. Not only because it leads to "gaining more," but because those who refresh others will be refreshed.
Generosity is asked of us not because we will get something in return (though we do), but because we're called to live and walk as Jesus did. In my experience, the purest joy has come from serving those who can't return the favor. I think God has created our world in this way on purpose. It's in a place of servanthood that encouragement, uplifting words, and Christ-like behaviors result.
Emotional, spiritual, and even physical health can flourish when we live generously. How? It's something only the Holy Spirit within us can understand. And so, I encourage you to lean on Him and His guidance as you check in on others and give time, encouragement, or resources to those in need.
Growing up, my family always had what we needed, but there were times we financially struggled. This led me to hoard what I gained as an adult, time, resources, and finances included. One thing the Lord has revealed to me over the years is that hoarding leads to resentment, but sharing leads to abundant blessings. More money won't make me feel secure or happy. But using what God has given me to bless others and trusting Him to provide will. We're called to be conduits of His provision, not containers.
Today, I ask you to reflect on where you might be withholding what God is calling you to give. Don't worry, I'm right there with you, asking the question, being convicted, too. But in this discomfort, hold on. Wait. Listen. Once you sense His guidance, lean in. Submit. Choose one way to refresh someone else this week—through your time, money, encouragement, or resources. Again, this doesn't have to be financial, but it can be. Jesus wants us to give what we're able and feel led to give! He wants cheerful givers!
Questions for Reflection:
-When have I seen God's blessing in response to generous living?
-This week, how can I give my time, resources, or finances to those in need?
-Do I struggle to be generous? If so, why do I think I struggle?
Let's pray:
Dear God, please teach us to give freely and trust you fully. Help us to be cheerful givers who give because we want to honor you and bless others. Help us not to be stingy with the blessings you've given us, but give them away so that others may see your goodness, grace, mercy, and kindness. Make me a person who refreshes others, not out of obligation, but by your overflowing love and compassion within me. Help me to give what I'm able, and to submit to you when you ask me to give even more. We praise, thank, and love you, Lord. Amen.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/kieferpix
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
