Scattering and Yet Increasing - Proverbs 11:24

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-four of Proverbs Solomon said, “there is that scatters, and yet increases” where we read,

There is that scatters, and yet increases;

and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.

The verse begins, “There is that scatters, and yet increases;” Solomon began with the words, “there is that scatters” or “there exists disbursement and spreading about”, “and yet increases” which means “and still and moreover adds, exceeds and continues further”. Solomon said there exists a manner of spreading about and dispersing that results in an exceedingly greater yield than the amount spread.

The verse goes on to say, “and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.” Solomon continued with the words, “and there is that withholds” or “and there exists a restraining, holding back, sparing and refraining” “more than is meet” which means “a greater, more numerous and abundant amount compared to straightness, uprightness, evenness and what is right and due”, “but it tends to poverty” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover it, the holding back, leads and directs a person to need, want and lack”. Solomon said there exists a manner of restraint and holding back that leads a person to lack and need.

When we meditate upon Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how we are to be generous and giving people rather than greedy and selfish. Even as seed in a person's hand may be spread about and sown, we may take what we have and share it with others. This “increases” our harvest and yield. However, if we only hold what we have and keep it from others, we will be in need ourselves. God shares His abundant blessings with us through His Son Jesus, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to spread and share what we have been given with others.

Next time Solomon says, “the liberal soul shall be made fat”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".