The World of the Stingy

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller" Proverbs 11:24

Have you ever noticed that the less you have, the more you want, or the more you have the more you still want?

That's the question I'm going to be focusing on today as we head into a new season of prosperity and super-charged belief in what we are doing in order that we become amongst the best in the world at what we do!

A bold statement that may appear to be, but I want you to consider the ramifications of such a statement as that because it will straight off help you to assess whether the words of your world really are framed large or small, by generosity or stinginess (ED - let's see how many Scrooge references appear here!).

Ready for the fireworks?

Here we go...


I jest, but only in part because we all know what pops into our heads when we hear the word "miser" or "stingy" (ED - I know! He likes to play word games, doesn't he?); Scrooge!

You might think of certain people in your life right now who are so tight, they'd strip a banana of its peel if you fed it to them whole!

What does that say then about their outlook in life? It's surely not one that's helpful in the long term, because it's not about planning for what's ahead or making the most of every opportunity that comes our way right?

Stinginess Defines Character

Who would be so cruel as to deny a baby its food? Or a pet its favourite treat? Why then is it deemed okay for some to act as though what they have is all that they'll ever have so they need a tight grip on it lest it slip through their fingers?

Answer: It's not okay because quite simply what goes around will indeed as the great J.T. sang about... "come all the way back around" in the end.

Here's a little illustration I like to consider when dealing with stinginess and hopefully it comes across in the way I intend it to: -

Imagine you have a cup and your friend has a bucket. Now, you go and fill your cup at the tap in the kitchen before your friend does. Next, your friend thinks it'd be a good idea to give you some of the water that's in his bucket because he realised he doesn't need that much.

Problem; your cup is full!

What do you do?

How then can you receive off your friend when what you have got is not capacity enough to receive?

What does that say about the very things you are clinging onto as a classic "stingy" persona?

Does it say you'll be able to receive anymore than what you already have?

I don't think so!

This is where the greatest test of faith can come sometimes because in order to receive more sometimes, you have to let go of what you have in order to receive the capacity to take on more.

How do managers start in jobs? Chairmen?

What about sports personalities? Do you think they're just born with the bat in their hands? Or the ball at their feet?

No way! They have to earn it, be it more recognition to gain a higher standing with a team, or more skills to truly prove to people that they are not just a one trick pony who's not worth the risk.

And how do you earn it? By letting go of what you have and reaching forward to a higher goal, a higher calling, a higher target!

When you see a homeless man or woman on the streets, what's your first reaction? Is it to cross to the other side and look the other way hoping they won't see you? Or are you, going to look right towards that opportunity and see if there is actually anything you can do this time? Sometimes all that's needed is an acknowledgement that the person exists and I'll tell you one thing, whilst I don't succeed all the time, I do try to offer them what little I can, when I can.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

I am not saying that this makes me better than anyone, not in the slightest, it is just that I know what side my bread's buttered on and I want to help do the same for others who are lacking either the bread, butter, or the jam (ED - ooh ah do like a beet a jam, me!)!

I know this is coming off quite strong and I would apologise if there was anything wrong with what I've said, but it's a question of a person's morality when they can walk past someone without acknowledging that they exist!

Taking a chance to see what an effect that "little" we think we can offer will do for some. For others, it might just remind them that they are not alone in this world so why not try and make it a better place for more of us.

After all, Someone is watching, remember (ED - no he's not talking about Big Brother!)...


By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Final Thought

Therefore, with that in mind as I draw yet another series to a close, I urge us all to consider what we're actually holding onto so tightly that might just be time to let go of. Be it hostility to an old wound someone caused us when we were younger, hurtful words that were said to us as a child, or something else, there's something to be said for adding a little bit of salt to cleanse it out.

The only question left to decide for now, is are we generous or are we stingy? Do we want to open our hearts more to see what life can throw at us? Or are we to continue being closed off in the hope that one day this will all go away and leave us alone?

I'm not trying to browbeat anyone, just provide an alternative opinion that might just get someone thinking differently about how they are living their life at the moment, it's "your decision", as the song goes.

Finally, I'm going to wrap up with a song, given that I've taken up enough time on this post... and it's quite a long one. I'm going to pick one that's close to my heart at the moment: -

Peace out, bro's!

P.S. - I'm going to be looking at "CITIZENFOUR" next and will endeavour to bring an unbiased opinion, if possible, to the whole national security debate and whether I consider it right that any government has a right to "spy" on its citizens, so I guess the controversy's not quite over with just yet, bro's!