Think More About Others
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)
Here are four ways in which you can express kindness and generosity towards others:
1.) Giving your time. Giving a few hours of your time to someone, especially if you’re a busy person, can mean the world to a person who’s hurting.
2.) Giving your talent. Organizations like Habitat For Humanity and Doctors Without Borders marshal the talents of gifted people to relieve suffering and provide shelter to the needy. That’s scriptural! (See Matthew 25:34-46.)
3.) Giving your treasure. The opening scripture … can you imagine the interest (reward) God pays?
4.) Giving your temperament. Everybody you meet, struggles with anxieties and fights battles they usually don’t talk about. So, your smile and word of encouragement can be like a lifeline that helps keep them afloat that day.
Selfishness is so innate in each of us that it’s like breathing; we do it without thinking. So, in order to change we must rearrange our priorities and reprogram our minds and decide, “I will not let this day pass until I have said or done something to help, bless, and encourage another human being.” God told Abraham: (2) “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3). Today pray: “Father, I thank You for every resource and advantage You have given me. Help me always to remember that these blessings are from You, and that they are to be shared with others for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.”
Read Proverbs 19 (entire chapter)
(1) Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. (2) Desire without knowledge is not good - how much more will hasty feet miss the way! (3) A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. (4) Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. (5) A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. (6) Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. (7) The poor are shunned by all their relatives - how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. (8) The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. (9) A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. (10) It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury - how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! (11) A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (12) A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. (13) A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. (14) Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. (15) Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. (16) Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. (17) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. (18) Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. (19) A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. (20) Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (21) Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (22) What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. (23) The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (24) A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth! (25) Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge. (26) Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace. (27) Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (28) A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. (29) Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.