Generosity is personal, not bureaucratic

         “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)
 
The Hebrew word translated by the NIV as “generous” refers to “a good eye.” And what would that suggest? A good eye connotes an eye that sees with compassion and concern. It cannot pass by the stranger lying by the road, but like the Good Samaritan it reaches out and does something for that unfortunate one.
       In our proverb the one by the road is the one in need of that which is basic for a normal livelihood – food, physical protection from the elements, but also some sort of meaningful contact with others. These needy people are all around us, perfectly visible to all but the blind. And that may be the problem, too much blindness toward the needs of others for whom life seems to have turned a deaf ear.
       Upon being reminded of such conditions, the natural reaction is very simple, just close your eyes. If you don’t see it, it will go away. But that doesn’t answer the problem. Ultimately the problem is more with the haves than the don’t-haves. Aha! exclaims the professional class of worriers about the poor. Get the government involved. Tax the rich! Here’s to the non-profits! Certainly in our day government is involved in a massive attempt to solve the problem, but money by itself doesn’t seem to work.
       But generosity is a personal quality, not something that belongs to a government agency. When government “gives” it is simply a financial transfer. It takes from one and gives to another. It makes no personal sacrifice. True generosity is a uniquely personal quality. To give requires that the giver let go of something that belongs to them. One of the remarkable things about giving is that it blesses the giver. Our text says, “The generous will themselves be blessed.” It’s a win-win situation: The needy are blessed by receiving and the givers by giving. Wonderful example of how good is God’s way.
       Since the proof of the pudding is in the eating” so now may be the time to use the “good eye” and seeing a need, do something about it. Solomon guarantees you’ll be blessed by your generosity.