In the kingdom of God, one can increase one’s possessions by handing them out. This is contrary to the world’s wisdom, which teaches us to keep what we have for ourselves, and to store up wealth for times when we will need it.
As this proverb reminds us, God often changes our expense into income. When we give freely for the sake of God’s kingdom and his poor, we can rely on God to give us all the more—perhaps already in this life, and certainly in the life to come. On the other hand, when we deny that God is the king over everything we possess, keeping it for ourselves, we can expect loss as a result of God’s disfavour.
Thus, this proverb reminds us that God is in control over all the gold, silver, and possessions in the world. Let us not follow worldly wisdom and hold back wealth that we should actually be giving away. God’s financial wisdom is different from that of the world (see Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 11:18; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6–11; Galatians 6:7–10).
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.