One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Prov. 11:24-25
Lord Jesus, I cannot read these words without lifting my heart and hands toward heaven. I cannot read these three words, “whoever refreshes others,” without thinking of you. You are the quintessential, archetypical, archbishop of refreshment!
No one refreshes dry and disconnected hearts like you; no one breathes life into the listless, weary sails of a soul like you. No one is an artesian spring of encouragement and kindness like you; no one welcomes our burdens and cares, our weariness and our woes, our fears and foibles like you. Your mercies are new every morning, your steadfast love never comes to an end, and you give grace upon grace.
Indeed, no one gives more freely than you, Jesus. You’ll never be charged with withholding any good thing from your people. You’ll never “come to poverty through hoarding,” because you freely chose the poverty of the cross to make us rich (2 Cor. 8:9). This is the gospel, and nothing is more refreshing than the gospel. The gospel is good news for every parched, thirsty, longing heart.
In the gospel you’re always calling to us in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus, I join my brothers and sisters today in coming to you right now, with my heart as wide open as the skies of Montana, as ready to receive fresh grace as the government is our taxes.
And as grace runs downhill to the needy, so it flows freely to others. Make us refreshers, Jesus. Freely we receive from you, and freely we will give to others. To whom would you send us today; to whom would you send me? Who needs a word of grace, a look of mercy, a hug of hope? So very Amen we pray, in your most generous and grace-full name.
