A generous person will prosper" ~Proverbs 11:25

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” ~Proverbs 11:25

Have you ever seen a generous curmudgeon? Or an encouraging sour-puss? I’ve never really thought about it until reading this verse. But it’s true (no surprise there!). Generosity and encouragement seem to be key ingredients in the recipe for happiness.

They are ALSO gifts from the Holy Spirit [Romans 12:8], which means they aren’t things we can drum up within ourselves. God gifts certain people with these traits and they can’t be taken away [Romans 11:29].

We can hide them in dark corners when we’re not walking with the Spirit, but when we are, look out!

The Holy Spirit is power - the disciples were gobsmacked when Jesus told them that He was going away and another would come who would help them do greater things. Greater things than walking on water? Or feeding thousands from nothing? Raising people from the dead? They didn’t believe it until that same power filled them. The verse from Zechariah 4:10 took on new meaning: “For who has despised the day of small beginnings? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel”. This wasn’t just about rebuilding the temple after it was destroyed by Babylon, it was a forecast of building the church - the true living temple that fills the earth, its foundation Jesus Christ.

These spiritual gifts enabled this spread and we are to continue in that mission. What is your spiritual gift?