Today’s Blog: A Bountiful Eye vs. Social Distancing

TODAY’S PROVERBS: One with a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9, TLV

Long after my encounter with a sparrow that inspired my devotional Making Eye Contact with God, passages pertaining to the eye still resonate with me. As a nation we’re looking to protect our own — which isn’t such a bad thing. However, this passage is a great reminder to see past us and on to others.

In today’s proverb, it is the bountiful eye. When an attribute is connected to the eye in the Bible, there’s a physicality associated with the adjective — some type of action.

In this case, bountiful is tied to generosity, but it’s an active generosity. A person with a bountiful eye not only sees the need, but actively seeks, with discernment, those who are in need. In other words, others might overlook these souls because they don’t meet the “definition” of one in need. But, a bountiful eye sees more.

One with a bountiful eye views bounty differently than others. Not so much defined as wealthy, but they live richly in God’s grace and favor.

How might this work?

• When we have a bountiful eye, it may draw us to someone we just “feel” we should invite over for a lunch after services.
• Or, we pack a box or two of non-perishables in our car. Being ready the next time we stop at a traffic light and a homeless person is there.
• Or, we have a bountiful harvest from the garden, and share it with a “neighbor.”

While Social Distancing?

During this season of “social distancing” how might this work?

• That next run to the store, if there are only a few packages of items we need, pray about how many to purchase. Do we grab them all and hoard them?
• Or take what we need and trust that the Lord will provide in the future, so others don’t have to do without?
• Another option, do we know elderly or those with compromised immune systems who are in need? Perhaps we ask if they want us to pick up any items next time we go to the store.
• Don’t forget our tithes and offerings? While we watch our congregation’s online services, we may think they don’t need our usual support — they do. But ever more than this, we’re commanded to do so.
• And while we’re at it, why not tithe a tithe for a ministry or two working to help the poor during this quarantine.

When we perform these acts of generosity, we connect with our Heavenly Father’s generosity — His heart. And that will always be quite bountiful.

May we have a bountiful eye, my friends.

Proverbs 22:9 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs

DO YOU HAVE A BOUNTIFUL EYE? HOW DO YOU PERFORM ACTS OF GENEROSITY DURING THIS SEASON OF SOCIAL DISTANCING? IF THIS BLOG WAS A BLESSING, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.