Proverb for Today

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; there is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. (Proverbs 13:7, MEV)

Devotional Thought

We’ve got a fascinating comparison today.

The person who makes himself rich has nothing. And the person who makes himself poor has great riches.

What in the world?!

I love this verse, because it shows the true value of personal gain without generosity: it’s worthless. You can have all the wealth you could possibly handle, but if you aren’t generous, if you don’t help others with your fortune, you’re not just poor, you have nothing of value.

On the flip-side, great riches are found in using your own resources to help others. It’s these acts of kindness, this lifestyle of generosity that builds true wealth.

If you define wealth as only the balance in your bank account, investment portfolio, and retirement fund, what are you left with?

But if you define wealth as the strength of the relationships around you, the ways you are able to help build others up, the investment you can make in individual lives, you’ll enjoy the dividends for a lifetime.

This is true biblical wealth.

Reflect and Respond

• • Are you investing in the people around you? How?
  • Take an assessment of the resources available to you. How can you maximize what God has blessed you with to help others?
  • What act of generosity can you do today?