阅读经文 

使徒行传第二十章35节指出耶稣曾说：“施比受更为有福”。但祂为什么会这样说呢？是因为慷慨的感觉很好吗？是因为我们在付出时感到被赞赏吗？还是因为“善有善报”？

箴言书第十一章25节说，那些好施舍的人必得丰裕。那么“丰裕”是什么意思呢？我们倾向于从财务角度理解丰裕，但这是相当有限的。在《圣经》中，丰裕和福祉、繁荣有很大关系，即按着神的旨意享受丰盛的生活。

这节经文的后半部分至关重要。“滋润人的，必得滋润。”这与其说是物质上的利益，不如说是心灵上的关怀。它让人想起诗篇第二十三篇，主作为我们的牧者带领我们“安歇在溪水旁”，使我们的灵魂苏醒。

因着慷慨，我们的灵魂得到滋润，因为当我们寻求他人的丰裕、健康和福祉时，我们自己也在这个过程中得到了耶稣的滋润。祂以谦卑、喜乐、忍耐、仁慈、善良等等来祝福我们。我们变得更像那为了我们的缘故倒空自己的主。

我们付出不是为了得到回报。我们奉献是为了使我们更接近基督的心。

Acts 20:35 notes that Jesus said, "It is better to give than to receive." But why would he say this? Is it because being generous feels good? Is it because we feel appreciated when we give? Is it because "what goes around comes around"?

Proverbs 11:25 says that those who are generous will prosper. And what does it mean to "prosper"? We tend to think of prosperity in financial terms, but that would be quite limiting. In the Bible, prosperity has a lot to do with well-being and flourishing, enjoying the fullness of life as God intends for us.

Reading the second half of this verse is essential: "Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." This is less about material gain than about soul care. It brings to mind Psalm 23, in which the Lord as our shepherd leads us "beside still waters" and restores or refreshes our soul.

Our souls are refreshed through generosity because when we seek the prosperity, health, and wellness of others, we ourselves are refreshed by Jesus in the process. He blesses us with humility, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and more. We become more like him who emptied himself for our sake.

We give not so that we can get something in return. We give so that we can draw nearer to the heart of Christ.