Give Today

Proverbs 3:28

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it" - when you have it with you.

The previous proverb instructs us not to put off doing good. This proverb tells us not to delay doing what we can. The most effective means to avoid doing good for our neighbor is to procrastinate. Tomorrow usually ends up being never. But even if we do intend to help the next day, we should not delay what we can do today. Why?

First, when God gives us opportunity to serve him, we should not delay. Remember, whatever good we do for another, we are doing it as to the Lord. Why, then, should we hold off serving our Lord for another day?

Another reason is that we do not know what the next day will bring. We do not control our future. Anything can happen to us and to our neighbor to prevent the opportunity from coming again.

Related to this, we are to do good today while we have it with us. The “it” may be money or some object that our neighbor needs. We have it now; we may not have it tomorrow. The “it” can also be our ability. Now we have the sharpness of mind to be of real help; tomorrow we may not. Now we have the physical energy and strength necessary for the task; tomorrow we may not. Give now when you have it with you because you don’t know when you will lose what you have.

Finally, do good and give help now because that is what you would want. Nothing is more disheartening than to ask for help and be put off when we know our neighbor has the means to help us. When we ask for help, we want it now, and to be told to come back the next day, not only inconveniences us, it discourages our spirits.

Today, if your neighbor asks for help, will you give? Will you do good today while you have it within you?