TODAY’S WORD…

The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.

– Proverbs 11:26

REFLECTION…

This verse speaks of people who have control of something which is of importance to, or needed by, others and who hold back on selling it or parting with it mainly out of the misguided pleasure of seeing it accumulate, or the desire to make excessive profits. Such a person can cause misery, anger, and bring on disgust and even animosity.

Conversely, to the open-handed, fair and generous; to the selfless person, who provides for the release of what he or she controls, and which is needed by or is due to others, God, as well as the community, will bless.

God does not want us to hoard up the gifts of His bounty, merely for our own perceived advantage. Rather, He wishes to see us choose Him over all else that we may possess. Possessions can be a test of our love for God and “neighbour”.

PRAYER…

Lord, free me from all covetousness,

from any avarice and from my attachment to possessions.

May I wholly desire just You as my treasure and my all.

Lord, guide me and help me release myself

from the hold that I allow material possessions to have over me.

Help me be open-handed

and guide me to make good use of the blessings that you have permitted that I possess

…rather than to be used by them.

For this I pray with all my heart, in Jesus’ name. Amen.