A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. A generous soulThe Hebrew word for "generous" here is "בְּרָכָה" (berakah), which can also mean "blessing." This suggests that generosity is not merely an action but a state of being—a soul that embodies blessing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, generosity was a highly valued virtue, often associated with righteousness and favor from God. The "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) refers to the entire being of a person, indicating that true generosity comes from the core of one's character, not just from external actions. will prosper
The Hebrew root for "prosper" is "דָּשֵׁן" (dashen), which means to be made fat or to thrive. This prosperity is not limited to material wealth but encompasses spiritual and emotional well-being. In the biblical context, prosperity is often seen as a sign of God's blessing and favor. The promise here is that those who live generously will experience a fullness of life, reflecting the abundant nature of God's own generosity. and he who refreshes others
The phrase "refreshes others" comes from the Hebrew "רָוָה" (ravah), meaning to saturate or to water abundantly. This imagery is agricultural, evoking the life-giving power of water in a dry land. In ancient Israel, water was a precious resource, and to refresh others was to provide what was essential for life. This act of refreshing is a metaphor for providing encouragement, support, and sustenance to those in need. will himself be refreshed
The promise of being "refreshed" uses the same Hebrew root "רָוָה" (ravah), creating a poetic symmetry in the verse. This reflects the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where the blessings one gives are returned in kind. The reciprocal nature of this promise underscores the interconnectedness of God's people and the divine economy of grace, where acts of kindness and generosity are rewarded by God Himself. This assurance encourages believers to live selflessly, trusting that God will meet their needs as they meet the needs of others. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical guidance for living a life that honors God. 2. Ancient IsraelThe cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction. 3. The Generous SoulThis refers to any individual who embodies generosity, a key virtue in the wisdom literature of the Bible. 4. The RefreshedThose who benefit from the generosity of others, experiencing renewal and encouragement. 5. The ProsperousIn the context of Proverbs, prosperity often includes spiritual, emotional, and sometimes material well-being, resulting from living according to God's wisdom. Teaching Points The Principle of GenerosityGenerosity is a core biblical principle that reflects God's character. As believers, we are called to be generous, not just with our resources, but with our time, encouragement, and love. Reciprocity in RefreshmentWhen we invest in others, whether through acts of kindness, support, or sharing resources, we often find ourselves refreshed and encouraged in return. This is a divine principle of reciprocity. Prosperity Beyond Material WealthBiblical prosperity encompasses spiritual and emotional well-being. A generous soul prospers in ways that transcend material wealth, experiencing joy, peace, and fulfillment. Living Out Generosity DailyPractical ways to live out generosity include volunteering, mentoring, giving financially, and offering emotional support. These actions reflect the heart of God and build community. The Impact of Generosity on CommunityGenerosity strengthens relationships and communities. When individuals are generous, it creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to also give and support one another. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of a "generous soul" in Proverbs 11:25 challenge your current understanding of generosity? 2. In what ways have you experienced being "refreshed" by others, and how can you apply this principle to refresh others in your life? 3. Reflect on a time when you practiced generosity. How did it impact your spiritual and emotional well-being? 4. How can the principle of reciprocity in giving and receiving be applied in your community or church setting? 5. Considering the broader biblical context, how does the teaching of Proverbs 11:25 align with Jesus' teachings on giving and serving others? Connections to Other Scriptures Luke 6:38This verse echoes the principle of giving and receiving, emphasizing that the measure you use will be measured back to you, reinforcing the idea of reciprocity in generosity. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7Paul speaks about sowing and reaping, encouraging cheerful giving, which aligns with the principle of a generous soul prospering. Galatians 6:9-10Encourages believers not to grow weary in doing good, for in due time they will reap a harvest, similar to the refreshing that comes from refreshing others. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Abundantly, Beneficent, Blessing, Cursed, Curser, Enriched, Fat, Generous, Gives, Liberal, Prosper, Prosperous, Refreshed, Refreshes, Rich, Satisfied, Satisfieth, Soul, Watered, Watereth, Watering, WatersDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 11:25 8436 giving, of possessions Proverbs 11:24-25 8262 generosity, human Proverbs 11:25-27 6672 grace, in relationships Library The Present Recompense
Chester Cathedral, Nave Service, Evening. May 1872. Proverbs xi. 31. "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." This is the key-note of the Book of Proverbs--that men are punished or rewarded according to their deeds in this life; nay, it is the key-note of the whole Old Testament. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil, to root out …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other SermonsThe Waterer Watered
A sermon (No. 626) delivered on Sunday Morning, April 23, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that watereth shall be watered also himself."--Proverbs 11:25. The general principle is that in living for the good of others, we shall be profited also ourselves. We must not isolate our own interests, but feel that we live for others. This teaching is sustained by the analogy of nature, for in nature there is a law that no one thing can be independent of the rest of …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs Withholding Corn
A sermon (No. 642) delivered on Sunday morning, July 30, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it."--Proverbs 11:26. If I dared, I should always preach upon the comfortable promises and gracious doctrines of God's Word. I find it most delightful and easy work to expatiate upon those themes of revelation which abound in sweetness, and are full of savor and preciousness …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs The Soul Winner
A sermon (No. 1292) delivered on Thursday evening, January 20th, 1876, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."--Proverbs 11:30. I had very great joy last night--many of you know why but some do not. We held our annual meeting of the church, and it was a very pleasant sight to see so many brethren and sisters knit together in the heartiest love, welded together as one mass by common sympathies, …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs Soul Winning
A sermon (No. 850) delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that winneth souls is wise."--Proverbs 11:30. The text does not say "he that winneth sovereigns is wise," though no doubt he thinks himself wise, and perhaps in a certain grovelling sense in these days of competition he must be so; but such wisdom is of the earth and ends with the earth; and there is another world where the currencies of Europe will not be accepted, nor their past possession be any sign …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs To Win Souls Requires Wisdom.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. THE most common definition of wisdom is, that it is the choice of the best end and the selection of the most appropriate means for the accomplishment of that end--the best adaptation of means to secure a desired end. "He that winneth souls," God says, "is wise." The object of this evening's lecture is to direct Christians in the use of means for accomplishing their infinitely desirable end, the salvation of souls. To-night I shall confine my …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion A Wise Minister Will be Successful.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. I PREACHED last Friday evening from the same text, on the method of dealing with sinners by private Christians. My object at this time is to take up the more public means of grace, with particular reference to the DUTIES OF MINISTERS. As I observed in my last lecture, wisdom is the choice and pursuit of the best end by the most appropriate means. The great end for which the Christian Ministry was appointed, is to glorify God in the salvation …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion How to Preach the Gospel.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. ONE of the last remarks in my last lecture, was this, that the text ascribes conversion to men. Winning souls is converting men. This evening I design to show, I. That several passages of Scripture ascribe conversion to men. II. That this is consistent with other passages which ascribe conversion to God. III. I purpose to discuss several further particulars which are deemed important, in regard to the preaching of the Gospel, and which show …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Sanctions of Moral Law, Natural and Governmental.
In the discussion of this subject, I shall show-- I. What constitute the sanctions of law. 1. The sanctions of law are the motives to obedience, the natural and the governmental consequences or results of obedience and of disobedience. 2. They are remuneratory, that is, they promise reward to obedience. 3. They are vindicatory, that is, they threaten the disobedient with punishment. 4. They are natural, that is, happiness is to some extent naturally connected with, and the necessary consequence of, …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will …
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus George Muller, and the Secret of His
POWER IN PRAYER WHEN God wishes anew to teach His Church a truth that is not being understood or practised, He mostly does so by raising some man to be in word and deed a living witness to its blessedness. And so God has raised up in this nineteenth century, among others, George Muller to be His witness that He is indeed the Hearer of prayer. I know of no way in which the principal truths of God's word in regard to prayer can be more effectually illustrated and established than a short review …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
TIMOTHY after his Conversion to the Christian Faith, being found to be a Man of great Parts, Learning, and Piety, and so every way qualified for the work of the Ministry, St. Paul who had planted a Church at Ephesus the Metropolis or chief City of all Asia, left him to dress and propagate it, after his departure from it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to visit and exercise Jurisdiction over them, to see they did not teach false Doctrines, 1 Tim. i. 3. That they be unblameable in …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Proverbs 11:25 NIVProverbs 11:25 NLTProverbs 11:25 ESVProverbs 11:25 NASBProverbs 11:25 KJV
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