Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed
Proverbs 11:25 - It’s that way with God; when we give, He splashes generosity onto us.
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“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 NIV
The Lord wants us to think about generosity and giving this week; the previous devotional I wrote on Luke 6:22-24 dealt with being generous to others, even if you don’t know them. Now we’re looking at a proverb that is focused on the same topic.
God promises that He will bless those who are generous. It could happen in this life with material, emotional, or spiritual blessings; it can be in the next (heavenly) life, or it can be both in the present and in eternity.
The Hebrew word for generous is בְּרָכָה (bᵊrāḵâ), which can mean both “a source of blessing” to others and “blessing, praise of God” which connotes a blessing from God. So in this one ancient Hebrew word we appear to have the meaning “bless others, and you will be blessed by God”.
In the Young’s Literal Translation, the first part of this proverb is translated as “A liberal soul is made fat”. In other words, the person who gives liberally of their time, treasure, or talent will be “made fat”. In the Enduring Word commentary on this proverb, Bruce Waltke explains this phrase:
ii. Rich is literally fat, and so translated in the King James Version (The liberal soul will be made fat). “Especially in countries where people have little to eat, the metaphor ‘to be fattened’ connotes wealth, abundance, full satisfaction, and health (cf. Deuteronomy 31:20).” (Waltke)1
Don’t worry - you won’t gain a bit of weight if you are a generous giver!
The second part of the proverb states that “whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” The ancient Hebrew translation (and translated similarly in other Bible translations) is “He who waters will also be watered himself” (NKJV). The Hebrew word here is רָוָה (rāvâ), meaning “to drench, water abundantly, saturate”.
From personal experience, I know that when I drench or saturate something with a garden hose, I usually get wet myself! It’s that way with God; when we give, He splashes generosity onto us. In Acts 20:35, we are reminded that Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Both Barb and I both love to quote the amazing Charles H. Spurgeon, and his insight into this proverb says this:
i. “If I want to get water I must give water. Though that seems a strange way of self-serving I pray you try it.” (Spurgeon)2
and from 19th century theologian Charles Bridges we get this:
ii. “The minister is refreshed by his own message of salvation to his people. The Sunday school teacher learns many valuable lessons in the work of instruction. Every spiritual gift, every active grace, is increased by exercise, while its efficiency withers by neglect.” (Bridges)3
I feel a personal connection with this statement. We have learned so much more about God’s Word through our research for these daily devotionals. By sharing the Living Water of Jesus Christ with all of you wonderful subscribers, we have been blessed with an abundance of the “splash back”.
What are some of the ways that you can practice the Biblical gift of generosity?
Volunteer your time at a local charity.
Offer to help a friend or neighbor with a task.
Share a meal with someone who is struggling.
Pray for others, lifting their burdens to God.
Be kind to others in simple ways, even just smiling and saying “Hello!”
If you’re already a generous giver, good for you! If you aren’t, there’s no better time to start than today.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me today and every day to embody the spirit of generosity. Guide me to share my blessings with those in this world who need them. Guide my hands and heart to reflect kindness and compassion, to enrich the lives of others as well as my own. Teach me to use my words to refresh and encourage those who are weary, and to use my hands to serve. I pray that my efforts to give selflessly and freely bring joy to others as well as fulfillment to my soul. Thank you for the abundance you have gifted me with, and may I always be willing to share it generously with others in need. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author and reproduced here in their original format. © 1996-present The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – enduringword.com
“Proverbs 11 (NLT) - The generous will prosper; those.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 24 Feb, 2026.
Waltke, Bruce K. “The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15” (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2004)
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon “The New Park Street Pulpit” Volumes 1-6 and “The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit” Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990)
Bridges, Charles “Proverbs” (The Crossway Classic Commentaries) (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2001 edition of 1846 original)