There's something deeply counterintuitive about the way God's kingdom operates. The world teaches us to hold tight, save more, and protect what we have. But Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, reveals a radically different principle in Proverbs 11:24-25.
What does Proverbs 11:24-25 say?
Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV) reads:
"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."
Proverbs 11:24-25 (KJV) states:
"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
These verses present a divine paradox that defies human logic: giving leads to increase, while hoarding leads to loss.
What is the meaning of "scattereth and yet increaseth"?
The Hebrew word translated "scattereth" paints a vivid picture from agricultural life. When a farmer scatters seed across his field, it looks like he's throwing away his resources. He takes precious grain—grain he could eat—and flings it onto the ground where it disappears into the soil.
To the untrained eye, this seems wasteful. But the farmer knows something the observer doesn't: scattered seed multiplies. What looks like loss is actually the path to abundance. One kernel of wheat can produce a stalk with dozens of kernels. The farmer who scatters liberally will reap abundantly at harvest time.
Solomon uses this agricultural image to teach a spiritual and economic truth. When you give generously—when you "scatter" your resources to help others—you're not diminishing your wealth. You're planting seed that God will multiply back to you.
This principle appears throughout Scripture. Jesus himself taught in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
The apostle Paul reinforced this same truth in 2 Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
What does "withholdeth more than is meet" mean?
The phrase "more than is meet" means withholding beyond what is appropriate or right. This describes someone who has the means to give, who has the opportunity to help, but chooses to clutch their resources tightly out of fear or greed.
Solomon isn't condemning wise financial planning or prudent saving. Proverbs actually commends the ant for storing up provisions (Proverbs 6:6-8). Rather, he's addressing the person who hoards excessively—who refuses to share even when they have abundance and others have genuine need.
The shocking part of this proverb is what happens to the hoarder: their withholding "tendeth to poverty." The very thing they feared—running out—becomes their reality because they refused to trust God's principle of generous living.
This happens in several ways. First, resources that aren't circulated and used for good often diminish in value or get consumed in other ways. Jesus told a parable about a man who hoarded his wealth in barns, only to die that very night, leaving everything behind (Luke 12:16-21).
Second, when we withhold from God's work and from helping others, we cut ourselves off from the flow of God's blessing. We position ourselves outside the channel of divine provision that flows to generous givers.
What does it mean that "the liberal soul shall be made fat"?
In ancient Near Eastern culture, being "fat" or prosperous was a sign of blessing and abundance. The "liberal soul"—or generous person—doesn't just survive; they thrive. Their prosperity isn't merely material, though God does promise to provide for those who give (Philippians 4:19). The prosperity includes spiritual richness, joy, relationships, peace, and the deep satisfaction that comes from being used by God to bless others.
The word "liberal" in the King James translation comes from the Hebrew word that means broad, spacious, or generous. It describes someone with an open hand and an open heart. Their soul is expansive, not constricted by fear or selfishness.
This generous person doesn't calculate every gift or analyze every request for help. They give freely because they understand a fundamental truth: everything they have comes from God, and God can be trusted to supply their needs as they meet the needs of others.
What is the principle of "he that watereth shall be watered"?
Water in the ancient world was precious. In the dry climate of Israel, water meant life. A person who waters others—who uses their resources to bring life, refreshment, and blessing to those around them—will themselves receive refreshment.
This is one of God's unbreakable spiritual laws. When you refresh others, God ensures you will be refreshed. When you strengthen others, God strengthens you. When you encourage others, God sends encouragement your way.
We see this principle demonstrated in the life of Abraham. God told him, "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). The blessing wasn't just for Abraham's benefit—it was meant to flow through him to others. And as it flowed through him, he himself was blessed.
The same pattern appears in the New Testament. Acts 20:35 records Jesus' words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The giver experiences a blessing that the receiver never knows—the joy of being a channel of God's provision, the satisfaction of making a difference, and the assurance that God sees and will reward their faithfulness.
How does God bless those who give generously?
God's blessing on generous givers takes many forms. Sometimes the blessing is material—God provides financially for those who give faithfully to His work. The church in Philippi gave sacrificially to support Paul's ministry, and he assured them that "my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
But God's blessing extends far beyond finances. Generous people often experience:
Spiritual blessing - They grow closer to God as they learn to trust Him as their provider rather than trusting in their possessions.
Relational blessing - Generosity creates deep, meaningful relationships. Proverbs 11:25 promises that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed, often through the very people they've helped.
Emotional and psychological blessing - Research confirms what Scripture has always taught: generous people are happier people. There's a joy in giving that receiving can never produce.
Eternal blessing - Jesus taught that generosity stores up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). The investments we make in God's kingdom and in people's lives create eternal dividends.
Protection from greed - Generosity protects our hearts from the destructive power of materialism. When we give regularly, we declare that God—not money—is our security.
Does Proverbs 11:24-25 teach a prosperity gospel?
We must be careful not to twist this proverb into a formula where we give in order to get. That reduces God to a cosmic vending machine and turns generosity into manipulation.
The prosperity gospel falsely teaches that financial giving guarantees financial return, and that God wants all believers to be wealthy. This distorts Scripture and creates devastating disappointment when the promised wealth doesn't materialize.
Proverbs 11:24-25 teaches something different: that generosity opens the door to God's blessing, but God determines what form that blessing takes and when it comes. The blessing may be spiritual rather than material. The increase may come in ways we didn't expect and can't measure with bank statements.
Solomon himself warns against the love of money in other proverbs. He writes, "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil" (Proverbs 15:16) and "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice" (Proverbs 16:8).
The principle is this: God takes care of generous people, but He does so according to His wisdom, not our demands. We give because we love God and want to bless others, not because we're trying to force God's hand.
What are examples of scattering and increasing in the Bible?
Scripture provides numerous examples of people who gave generously and experienced God's multiplication:
The widow of Zarephath gave Elijah her last meal during a severe famine. She had only enough flour and oil for one final meal for herself and her son before they would starve to death. Yet when the prophet asked her to make him a cake first, she obeyed. God multiplied her flour and oil, and they didn't run out for the entire duration of the famine (1 Kings 17:8-16).
The widow with two coins gave everything she had—her entire livelihood—into the temple treasury. Jesus said she gave more than all the rich people because she gave out of her poverty, not her abundance (Mark 12:41-44). Though Scripture doesn't record what happened to her afterward, Jesus' commendation suggests God honored her sacrificial giving.
The early church in Jerusalem sold their possessions and shared with anyone who had need. Acts 4:34 records that "there were no needy persons among them." Despite their radical generosity, the church grew explosively and God met their needs.
The Macedonian churches gave beyond their means to help believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from famine. Paul marveled at how they gave "even beyond their ability" out of their "extreme poverty" (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). Their sacrificial giving blessed others and brought them great joy.
How can we apply Proverbs 11:24-25 today?
This proverb calls us to examine our relationship with money and possessions. Are we scatterers or hoarders? Do we give freely, or do we withhold more than is appropriate?
Trust God as your source - The generous person has learned that God, not their paycheck or savings account, is their true provider. When you know God is your source, you can give without fear.
Give regularly and intentionally - Generosity shouldn't be random or merely emotional. Develop a plan for giving to your church, to ministries, and to people in need. The apostle Paul encouraged believers to set aside money regularly for giving (1 Corinthians 16:2).
Look for opportunities to refresh others - Proverbs 11:25 promises that those who refresh others will be refreshed. Ask God to show you who needs encouragement, help, or support. Then act on what He shows you.
Start where you are - You don't have to be wealthy to be generous. The widow gave two small coins. What matters is not the amount but the heart behind the gift and the willingness to trust God.
Give with joy - God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). When giving feels like a burden, we've missed the heart of generosity. Ask God to give you His heart for others and His joy in blessing them.
Remember eternal perspective - Everything we have is temporary. We can't take it with us. But we can send it ahead by investing in God's kingdom and in people's lives. That's the ultimate form of scattering seed that increases.
The heart behind the proverb
Proverbs 11:24-25 reveals something beautiful about God's character and His design for human community. God created us to be conduits of blessing, not reservoirs that hold everything in. He designed a world where generosity creates flourishing—not just for the recipient, but for the giver as well.
When we give generously, we participate in God's nature, for He is the ultimate generous giver. He gave His only Son (John 3:16). He gives us every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). He supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He pours out blessing until there's no room to contain it (Malachi 3:10).
The generous person reflects God's image to a watching world. They demonstrate that God can be trusted. They prove that His ways work. And they experience a depth of joy and satisfaction that the hoarder will never know.
So scatter your seed generously. Water others freely. Trust God to multiply what you give and to refresh you as you refresh others. This is the paradox of the kingdom: the way up is down, the way to gain is to give, and the way to be filled is to pour yourself out for others.
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