There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. ~ Proverbs 11:24

This verse caught my eye today. How many times have I heard stories from my parents and other church friends about how they gave – sometimes sacrificially, sometimes out of their abundance – to some need of the church, only to see God give it right back with interest! In fact, my husband and I have a few stories like that ourselves. It’s a trite saying, but it’s true: you cannot out-give God.

Likewise, I’ve seen many people who live in fear, storing up an abundance of financial security, only to live unhappy lives in pretend poverty.  I’ve also seen some of those people lose their  safety net  due to an economic downswing. How much better it would have been to see some of that “financial security” invested into God’s Work,  particularly that of foreign missions?

Just as the farmer scatters an abundance of seed and reaps a bountiful harvest, so should we Christians do the same. I thought of a few things we should invest:

• Our time to serving God
• Our mouths in witnessing
• Our finances into the ministry of church and missions
• Our love in the souls of children and church family
• Our words in praise and prayer
• Our eyes in the pages of God’s Word
• Our ears in the preaching and hearing burdens of others
• And so much more!

I pray I can scatter that which God has given me that it may be used for His purposes until He calls me home.