Proverbs 11:24 Mikasa Sukasa
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.
Newborn Infants are not born so innocent as many would believe because all humans are born with a sinful nature. Little babies are like puppies, cute and fun to play with, but they can be a little fussy. As infants grow older, its sinful nature will show up, young siblings will make a fuss over a toy, pulling it back and forth, saying, mine, mine. Little puppies must be taught not to bite. Children must be taught to share, not only with siblings but with friends as well. I lived with roommates a few times, and sometimes it is okay. In 2017, I was looking for a place, and my then pastor Thorn Hean, said he had a room I could rent from him, but be living with a Cambodian family. Only one of them spoke English, but one word they communicated well in English was, “NO!” No, I could not use the washer or dryer, no, the refrigerator, and no, I could not use the microwave oven. I asked the pastor why because he spoke the same language as them, and he said they were afraid I might break their stuff. So, they made my life a little more complicated. I had to go to a laundromat or friends to wash my clothes. I had to buy a refrigerator for my room and a microwave oven as well. The father of the household I call grandpa was very elderly but in decent shape. I heard he believes in Jesus, but the others were Buddhist. Buddha Shakyamuni the founder of the Buddhist religion, taught to overcome everything with love. Use peace, compassion and be free from things like anger, sounds like Jesus, right? Christians talk about karma, but karma isn’t Biblical, but the very opposite.
Pastor Hean told me once, the Cambodians love America because it is like heaven compared to Cambodia. The government is very cruel to their people, and the living condition is just horrible. I ask him, why do they come to my country and treat me like their government treated them? He had no answer. Their stingy ways reached a point at once and I lost my temper with them? One Saturday afternoon, I was having lunch, using their fan to keep me cool. I went to my room for a reason, and someone turned it off. When I returned, I turned it back on. While I was eating, the house lady walked to the fan and yanked the cord out of the plug, so it had no electricity to work. I was furious at this point. It took years of putting up with their selfish ways; I lost my temper and destroyed the fan. Matters got worst, and I had to move out that day. How does this relate to the wisdom that is Proverbs 11:24, which seems about sharing money? I am not wealthy by any means, in a worldly manner at least. I live in a “Mi Casa Es Su Casa” way of life, which in Spanish means my house is your house, and everything that is mine is yours. I do not have a selfish bone in my body, and I do not mind sharing. The word of God tells me nothing is really mine at all. It all belongs to the Lord, for He gives all blessings. The kingdom of heaven and the riches of it belong to the Lord Himself. The holy word of God says Jesus made Himself poor. He left the glory of heaven, where the streets were made of pure gold, and came to the dirty, sinful earth. He was born in a manger, not in the king’s palace. He dies a criminal death and would be given a criminal burial, but the mercy of a wealthy Pharisee Priest, lets Jesus have his tomb. When a person shares their blessings or possession out of love and compassion, they live and share like Christ. Ask yourself this question, is everything you have really yours, like your money, house, car, job, wife, kids, friends, or even your own life? Would you share or give away what God has given you? God bless you all, I love you, and so does Jesus Christ. Samuel H.
