Spurgeon: August AM
* 08/21/AM
"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.