Life's Inanities and Ironies

In a world obsessed with ROI—return on investment—Proverbs 19:17 delivers a shocking financial truth straight from the mouth of the Holy Spirit: when a believer shows pity to the poor, he is not throwing money away. He is making a secured loan directly to Jehovah Himself. And the repayment is guaranteed. This is not prosperity theology or sentimentalism. This is the inerrant, preserved Word of God. Let us open our King James Bibles and dig deep into this divine promise. The Text (KJV) “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17) Hebrew Word-by-Word Exegesis  The original Hebrew (Westminster Leningrad Codex) reads:   **מַלְוֵ֣ה יְ֭הוָה חֹ֣ונֵֽן דָּ֑ל וּ֝גְמֻלֹ֗ו יְשַׁלֶּם־לֹֽו׃** - **חֹונֵֽן (ḥōwēn)** – Qal active participle of חָנַן (*chanan*, Strong’s H2603). It means “to be gracious, to show favor, to have pity or compassion.” This is not mere emotion; it is active, merciful concern that mo...

In an age of tax-deductible foundations, celebrity “giving” campaigns, and virtue-signaling social media posts, the word *philanthropy* has been hijacked by the world. But the Bible—specifically the book of Proverbs—reveals the true meaning of philanthropy: a heart of generous love for others that flows from the fear of the Lord. This is not optional charity for the “socially conscious.” This is commanded obedience for every Bible-believing Christian. The Proverbs are not suggestions from a distant philosopher; they are the inerrant, Spirit-breathed wisdom of the living God. Let us open our preserved King James Bibles and hear what the Lord declares about true philanthropy. “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD” (Proverbs 19:17) This single verse turns all worldly philanthropy upside down. When you give to the needy, you are not merely helping a fellow human—you are making a loan to the Creator Himself. And Scripture promises: “that which he hath given will he pay him ...

 Most Christians want to be a blessing, but too many of us end up being a burr under everybody’s saddle. We rub people the wrong way with criticism, gossip, stinginess, and pride. The early church had the opposite problem: they had a man who rubbed everyone the right way, and his nickname literally meant “Son of Encouragement.” His real name was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, and in Acts 4:36–37 we’re told why he earned that nickname: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” That’s it. No fanfare. No GoFundMe campaign. No dedication ceremony. He simply saw a need, sold property, and quietly laid every dollar at the feet of the leadership so the gospel could stay free and the saints could be fed. Here are four timeless ways Barnabas still teaches us to rub people the right way in 2025: 1. Speak encouragement, no...