Morning, August 21

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"He that watereth shall be watered also himself."

  Proverbs 11:25

   We are here taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; that to
   accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we must make
   others happy; and that in order to become spiritually vigorous, we must
   seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we are ourselves
   watered. How? Our efforts to be useful, bring out our powers for
   usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant faculties, which are
   brought to light by exercise. Our strength for labour is hidden even
   from ourselves, until we venture forth to fight the Lord's battles, or
   to climb the mountains of difficulty. We do not know what tender
   sympathies we possess until we try to dry the widow's tears, and soothe
   the orphan's grief. We often find in attempting to teach others, that
   we gain instruction for ourselves. Oh, what gracious lessons some of us
   have learned at sick beds! We went to teach the Scriptures, we came
   away blushing that we knew so little of them. In our converse with poor
   saints, we are taught the way of God more perfectly for ourselves and
   get a deeper insight into divine truth. So that watering others makes
   us humble. We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked
   for it; and how much the poor saint may outstrip us in knowledge. Our
   own comfort is also increased by our working for others. We endeavour
   to cheer them, and the consolation gladdens our own heart. Like the two
   men in the snow; one chafed the other's limbs to keep him from dying,
   and in so doing kept his own blood in circulation, and saved his own
   life. The poor widow of Sarepta gave from her scanty store a supply for
   the prophet's wants, and from that day she never again knew what want
   was. Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed
   down, and running over.