He that watereth shall be watered
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”Proverbs 11:25
Reflection
Proverbs 11:25 carries one of those principles that seem to contradict arithmetic. By common logic, whoever gives ends up with less, and whoever keeps ends up with more. But the verse affirms: "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself". It is one of the strangest and firmest laws of God's kingdom: generosity does not impoverish, it enriches inwardly and, often, outwardly too.
Notice that the text speaks of a "liberal soul", not only of a generous hand. The generosity God values is born of the heart, not of calculation. It is not giving in order to get back like an investor, but giving because one sees the other person and trusts in God's provision. And the verb "watereth" carries the image of water: whoever brings water to the thirsty ends up drinking himself. It is like a spring that never runs dry precisely because it never stops flowing. The standing pond turns cloudy; the spring that gives stays fresh.
It is important to avoid two distortions. The first is turning generosity into a bargaining machine: "I give X so that God gives me Y". This verse describes a principle, not a contract. The second is thinking one can only be generous with money. The liberal soul hands out time, attention, patience, a word of encouragement, forgiveness, knowledge, a meal, a ride. Often what the world lacks most is not funds, but people willing to give themselves gladly.
Today, give something on purpose. It can be small: an encouraging message, an hour of help, an offering for someone in need, patient listening. Do it without fanfare and without expecting anything. And observe: almost always the heart of the giver ends up lighter and fuller. The God who created everything is the greatest giver in the universe, and whoever resembles Him discovers that, in the kingdom, giving is the surest way of receiving.
Prayer
Lord, make me a liberal soul. Free me from the fear of lacking and from the habit of keeping everything for myself. Teach me to give gladly the time, attention, goods and love I have received from You. Thank You that, in giving, I too am filled. Amen.
Put it into practice
Choose one gesture of generosity today and do it without fanfare: an offering, an hour of your time, an encouraging message or practical help to someone. Afterwards, write down what you felt in giving without expecting anything back.
To reflect on
In what area of your life (time, money, attention, forgiveness) have you been keeping for yourself what God wanted you to share?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).