Do This And You Will Prosper.

Prov. 11:24-25- "There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25 The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered."NASU

     The Way To Prosperity Comes By Being Generous

Solomon says, "There is one who scatters, and yet increases…" In other words, there are people who share what they have acquired and the end result is an increase in what they have. The mind of man has a very difficult time accepting this truth because it seems so contradictory to basic common sense.
 
If I have 5 apples and I give one apple away I now have 4 apples so how does that equate to an increase?
 
Yet, a spiritually minded person reads this passage and understands it quite easily because they know God sees our liberality and He will bless our action of giving so that we will be blessed with an increase.
 
A person of little or no faith will not understand this concept. Yet, a person of faith understands it perfectly. This course of action to the person of faith makes perfect sense and is crystal clear.
 
                The Pathway To Being a Loser 
 
The pathway the loser travels on is withholding what he should share. Here is how this pathway leads you down the wrong trail because the end result is all you have are feelings of "I Want More".

There will be no contentment for the stingy person only a desire of wanting more. They are not able to be happy with what they have because of this deep longing down inside them that only wants more.
 
                Is There A More Pathetic Sight?
 
Have you ever seen a person who in your mind has just about everything, yet the person doesn't have any contentment?  There is no peace in their life because they are not happy with what they have. Is that pathetic or what?
 
Seriously, wouldn't you want to have a little and be totally content with it, rather than have a lot of stuff and not be content with what you have?
 
                Every American Needs To Go On A Third World Mission Trip.
 
Going on a mission trip to Mexico in 2003 is what opened my eyes more than anything else. I really believe every American Christian should go on a 3rd world mission trip.
 
I led a men's group to Rocky Point, Mexico to build 13 houses for them on the first trip I led down there.

The house dimensions are 11' x 22'. Yes, you read the dimensions correctly Eleven Feet wide x Twenty-Two Feet long. The stick built, stucco house had one door, two windows, no running water or electricity. The people cried tears of joy when we gave them a Spanish Bible and the keys to their door at the end of the project.
 
Now most Americans who are reading this Pump Up are saying to themselves my garage is bigger than that and you would be correct.
 
Yet, this house will be the home of any where from 4-6 people and sometimes more.
 
I made God a promise during that trip I would never complain about what I have. This was an eye opener for me. Then I went on a mission trip to Peru and Africa and my eyes were opened even wider. I have more items in my basement stuffed in boxes than some of these people will ever own in a life time. 
 
                Going Back To Uganda, Africa In October
 
I have had numerous people ask me, "Why do you want to go back to Africa?"  The answer is simple - There is one who scatters and increases all the more. I want to scatter the Word of God. I want the Word of God to increase.
 
I want to be that generous man. Not so that I can prosper. I am already wealthy. The good Lord has already seen to it that I have prospered. It just isn't right NOT to give back. It just isn't right to be stingy with what you have. 

Would you please say a prayer for me and my upcoming trip in October?
 
(I will be teaching 25 tribal pastors at the Messiah Theological Institute in Mbale, Uganda, who will in turn take what I teach them to hundreds of other Africans. I will be teaching the Gospel of Luke with the Theme of How To Build A Stronger Relationship With Jesus Christ.) 
 
                The Way To Prosperity Comes By Being Generous 
 
I started this Pump Up by saying the way to prosperity comes by being generous and I am going to end it the same way that I started it. We can not improve on God's plan. Do you want to prosper? Then give.
 
Hopefully, you noticed I never mentioned money. Money is not the only way you can give. When I went to Mexico I gave leadership, direction and time. I organized the trip. I made all the necessary arrangements and recruited others to help me and I even took clothes for them.
 
Give things away that you are not using that would be a blessing to others and by all means give your time to a lot of worthy projects.

You need to be one of the ones who scatters because in so doing you will be the one that prospers.

Think On These:

Generosity will always leave a more pleasant memory than stinginess.
 
He who gives only when he is asked has waited too long.
     
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word