Soulitudes Produce Attitudes

(Proverbs 11:25 KJV)  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The literal marginal readings throw some interesting meanings to this verse.  The “liberal soul" (generous man NASB) (1293/5315) is given as literally meaning “soul of blessing.”  I like that because it moves the action to an attitude and attitudes are expressed in all actions not just in a few.  This moves it from being someone who gives a lot to someone who gives from the heart.  Do you see a difference? 

“Generous” (1293) doesn’t cut it.  This is the only place in the OT that the NASB translates the word this way.  It is usually blessing or blessings (59x).  The KJV does the same.  This is the only place it uses “liberal.”  Being generous in our minds tends to have dollar signs in front of it.  Being a blessing is more of a total picture. 

This is even stronger when you get to “man” (5315).  The NASB translates this word “man” or “men” six times but “soul”  238 times.  This is an inner attitude.  The soul generates the blessing.  The soul receives the blessing. 

So?  You can’t get blood out of a turnip.  You can’t get blessing out of a soul of stone.  Pause a moment and make sure that your heart has its receiver turned on so that the Holy Spirit can lead you for the day. 

I will continue the “fat” part next month.