Sharing is caring.

Sharing is caring.

We’ve all heard the phrase. Yet how often to we truly practice it? Do we only share when it’s convenient? Or when others see us? Perhaps we only share during certain times of year? Or, we share because it is expected but not something we actually want to do.

As Americans we live a very privileged life. Most of us want for very little and even the poorest of us our often wealthier than those across this world. God has blessed as tremendously. But how often to we try to hoard those physical blessings or waste them?

Solomon teaches us that those who give freely of what they have are rich while those who withhold will suffer want. What does this mean?

It’s a simple proverb. When we give and share with others – our time, our money, or our other physical blessings – we become rich. But not rich according to the world’s standards. We become rich according to God’s. But if we greedily or wastefully keep and use our blessings, we will suffer. We will suffer because God expects us to share and we will suffer because we will lack connections and meaning in our lives.

Ultimately, helping others and sharing with those in need is one of humanities true callings. We were not intended to be selfish beings. This is why when you cheerfully help someone and give without regret – you receive emotional and spiritual rewards. We are happy. We feel contented. We feel fulfilled. We are rich with spiritual and unseen wealth.

But when we hoard, we will suffer because we’ve chosen ourselves over others. This is the anathema of a righteous, godly person. The righteous seek to be like God who willingly gave His son – the greatest gift – for us. The greedy seek to enrich themselves.

One of Christ’s last public messages was about helping the needy and strangers. He concluded with “when you do this, you do it to Me.”

God expects us to share freely because He shares freely AND because nothing we have is really our own. It is a blessing from God. He blessed us so we can bless others. We just use our blessings wisely. God commands it.

Sharing is caring and enriching.
Hoarding is sinful and damaging.

Are you a sharer or are you a hoarder?