Friday!

Proverbs!

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

Proverbs 28:27 NLT

The word here translated "close" is literally "to conceal". 

We look away, choose not to look at all. 

And there are times when we have to look away or have boundaries about what we see for our on well being.

But when we never look at the cause of poverty, never enter in to another's story, then we can tell ourselves "it's nothing to do with me".

We never have to consider causes. 

Or privilege.

Or who I vote for.

Or what sort of society we want.

Or is what I do, what I buy, helping or making things worse?

This proverb offers an antidote to my selfishness: to be generous.

By giving, even in the smallest of ways, we are shifting the story, and even if the results don't seem big or tangible, giving makes space in our hearts for others.

It has the opportunity to enlarges us, to allow us to walk in the world without concealing our eyes.

Giving, even in the smallest of ways, increases shalom, both in the world, and in us.

#proverbs

#wisdom

#somethingtochewon 

#shalom