“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.“
Proverbs 11:25 NIV
The word “refresh” made me imagine a cold bottle of Coca-Cola. As unhealthy as it is, taking that on a hot afternoon makes you feel refreshed, but for a fleeting time.
And it made me wonder…
If drinking a cold drink refreshes me, how does the company supplying the drink get refreshed, according to the anchor scripture?
Then it hit me…
They make money and gain influence, lots of it.
Finding solace in a cold drink on a hot day is like allowing the Holy Spirit to cuddle you when you need comfort.
That experience leaves you comforted, refreshed, and ready to go the extra mile until you return to Him again.
When you get refreshed, how does God’s spirit get refreshed in return?
He gains more influence in your life and strengthens your relationship. Instead of fading away, the Spirit of God becomes more present for you.
If you haven’t felt spiritually refreshed in a while, it’s time to hit that refresh button.
How can we be generous with our resources and refresh others without going overboard?
Is it possible to strive to refresh others in excess?
Yes. And you’ll know it’s in excess when you burn out and don’t feel refreshed. Even doing it the wrong way can cause the same problems.
To refresh others, you must have something to offer. From our example, the creator of Coca-Cola spotted a problem and realized he could create something to fix it.
Over the years, the purpose of the drink evolved into a regular everyday drink, away from its original idea, but it’s still refreshing to take. He gave what he had to offer, and we received it differently.
This is the same thing with being generous with our resources. We know the value of what we’re giving, but sometimes, others don’t have the same perception. This is why moderation is essential.
When you give so much and realize it’s not received as you’d have hoped, your reason and capacity for generosity will be tested.
As much as we’d like to help the whole world with what we have to offer, God’s wisdom helps us know when to decline and when to give.
But we can rest assured that even when we give and refresh others, we receive as well, as long as we remember that our ability to give comes from God.
“Someone I care about or lead that I can be generous to today is…”
The power is in your hands to decide how you want to give and to whom. Even when you hear God’s spirit lead you to help someone, you still choose to do it.
Who is that special person who will receive the unique offer you have? Do something good today.
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