Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 21– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“The one who waters will be watered himself also.” 

—Proverbs 11:25

Here we are taught the great lesson that we receive much when we give. In order to accumulate, we must scatter; to make ourselves happy, we must make others happy; to become spiritually vigorous, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we ourselves are watered. But how does this work?

Our efforts to be useful bring out our powers for usefulness. We have unused talents and abilities that are brought to light by exercise. Our strength and ability may even be surprising to ourselves when we venture forth to fight the Lord’s battles or to climb the mountains of difficulty. We don’t know what tender sympathies we possess until we dry the widow’s tears and soothe the orphan’s grief. We often find that by teaching others we gain instruction for ourselves. Oh, what gracious lessons some of us have learned at sick beds! We went to teach the Scriptures; we came away blushing that we knew so little of them. In our conversation with poor saints, we are taught the way of God more perfectly, gaining for ourselves a deeper insight into divine truth.

Watering others makes us humble. We discover how much grace we had overlooked before. We encounter poor saints who outstrip us in knowledge. By cheering others our heart is gladdened. Like the two men in the snow, one rubbed the other’s arms and legs to keep him from dying, and in so doing kept his own blood circulating, saving his own life.

Give then, and it will be given to you in good measure, pressed down, and running over. [M&E]