Bible League: Living His Word The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.— Proverbs 11:25 NKJV I want to be like the soul in our verse for today. I want to be a generous soul. I don't want to be a greedy soul. The generous soul is a soul that blesses other people. They may not only bless with money. They bless them in all sorts of ways. It's as if their souls are so full of the blessings of God, so full of the Holy Spirit, that they overflow upon other people. It's a good thing to hang around a generous soul. They give of themselves plenteously and cheerfully. They give of themselves not because they feel some sort of external obligation, but because they have a sincere generosity of spirit (see 2 Corinthians 9:5). Although money is not necessarily the mode of their blessing, generous souls do give of their money. As our verse for today says, they water people. Like a flowing water fountain, they satisfy those who are thirsty. They give money and resources to those who are needy. They always have cash on them for the beggar on the street. Waiters and waitresses are happy to see them come in the door. They have checkbooks at the ready for those who ask them for help. Those in need can count on the generous soul. Although they give of their money and resources, the generous soul does not become poor. Indeed, it's just the opposite. They become rich. They water others and, as a result, they are watered themselves. God sees to it. It's a law of His kingdom: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). It's not that way for the greedy. There's another law for them: "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly" (2 Corinthians 9:6) and "there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty" (Proverbs 11:24). It doesn't benefit to be a greedy soul. Now that you know the way it is in God's kingdom, take your pick. Do you want to be a generous soul or a greedy one? Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 41, 42 Ezekiel 41 -- The Measures, Parts, Chambers, and Ornaments of the Inner Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 42 -- Chambers for the Priests NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Peter 1 2 Peter 1 -- By Faith and Works, Make Your Calling Sure; Eyewitness of the Apostles and Prophets NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.Insight Christ's death and resurrection set us free from the fear of death because death has been defeated. Every person must die, but death is not the end; instead, it is the doorway to a new life. All who dread death should have the opportunity to know the hope that Christ's victory brings. Challenge How can you share this truth with those close to you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Leviticus 19:16, 17 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God's Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord's people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonor the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah's wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond--Speak evil of no man. The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God's blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter's boastful denial that he needed such a caution. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 65:4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Luke 1:53 "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. Psalm 36:7-9 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. • They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. • For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. • O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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