Gaining by Giving

The generous man will be prosperous. Proverbs 11:25

If I desire to prosper in my soul, I must not hoard up my possessions, but must distribute to the poor. To be greedy and miserly is the world’s way to prosperity, but it is not God’s way, for He says, There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want (Proverbs 11:24). Faith’s way of gaining is by giving. I must try this again and again, and I can expect that as much prosperity as will be good for me will come to me as a gracious reward for a heart of generosity.
Of course, I cannot be sure that I will grow rich. I will be prosperous, but not too prosperous. Too many riches might make me as awkward as obese people usually are and cause me the nausea of worldliness, and might even bring on a fatty degeneration of the heart. No, if I have enough fat to be healthy, I can rightly be satisfied; and if the Lord grants me that which is sufficient, I will be thoroughly content. But there is a mental and spiritual prosperity that I would greatly desire, and this comes as the result of generous thoughts toward my God, His church, and my fellow men. Let me not be stingy so that I do not starve my heart. Let me be bountiful and generous, for in this I will be like my Lord. He gave Himself for me; how can I keep back anything from Him?’