Scatter Responsibly

(Proverbs 11:24 KJV)  There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

I think it is easy to get the wrong idea about “scatters” (6340).  This seems like casually passing out our wealth to anyone in need.  I picture the king entering a city and tossing coins to the crowd.  It seems to lack discipline.  We need to compare that picture with the following words.

In the context of the verse, the scattering would seem to hit many of us where we live.  It means paying our bills on time.  In an age of easy credit we have many people who take advantage of the system.  They speculate.  They postpone.  They run up their bills and declare bankruptcy.  This would apply to modern methods of manipulating creditors instead of paying them.  I have heard of people who would run up their credit cards and then when they could not put off paying any longer, switch to another card.

So?  God does not smile at these kinds of games.  He does not think it is funny.  It is definitely not moral.  Followers of Jesus Christ are to pay their “meet” (justly due NASB) (3476) bills on time and in full.  That might mean that you don’t get to go to Hawaii for vacation this year or it might simply mean ordering off the dollar menu.