A Giving Heart Is A Beautiful Thing
Submitted by Steven Temple, The Pastors Pen
August 12, 2026

Occasionally, we come across a verse of Scripture that stops us right in our tracks. We may have read it dozens of times before, heard it preached multiple times, but suddenly the meaning seems deeper than ever. Proverbs 19:17 is one of those verses, and it says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."

What an amazing statement. Imagine lending something to the Lord, the God of all things, the creator of all. That sounds impossible. God already owns everything. The Bible tells us that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. There is nothing that we have that did not first come from Him. However, this Proverb tells us that when we show compassion to those in need, God considers it as we have done this for Him. That idea should change the way we look at the people around us.

When we hear the word "poor," our minds often go to financial hardship. Certainly, the verse includes those who struggle to provide for themselves and their families. There are people in every community who quietly wonder how they will pay the next utility bill, put food on the table, or buy medicine they desperately need, especially in the world we live in today. But there are other kinds of poverty as well.

Some people are poor in hope. Some are poor in friendship. Others are poor in health, peace, or even encouragement. There are people who smile on Sunday morning while carrying burdens that no one else knows about. Some have recently buried a loved one. Others have received difficult medical news. Some are battling loneliness after the children have grown and moved away. Still others are weary from carrying responsibilities that seem heavier than they can bear.

The longer I live, the more convinced I become that we are surrounded by hurting people. We simply do not always recognize their pain. Maybe that is why kindness matters so much. Most acts of compassion never make the evening news. No headlines are written about the neighbor who quietly mows an elderly widow's yard. No television cameras appear when someone anonymously pays for another person's groceries or leaves groceries on a struggling family's porch. No one applauds the church member who faithfully visits nursing home residents every week simply because they need someone to talk with.vYet heaven notices every one of those moments. God sees the casserole left at the door of a grieving family. He sees the handwritten note sent to someone who is discouraged. He sees the phone call just to ask, "How are you doing?" He sees the volunteer who gives up a Saturday morning to help repair someone's home. He sees the person who slips a few dollars into the hand of someone in need without expecting recognition or thanks. Even though the world may overlook these quiet acts of mercy, God never does.

Jesus lived this kind of compassion every day of His earthly life. He was never too busy to stop for someone in need. He touched those others refused to touch. He welcomed those society rejected. He fed the hungry, comforted the brokenhearted, and offered hope to people who had almost given up.

One of the phrases that appears repeatedly in the Gospels is that Jesus was "moved with compassion." His love was never merely an emotion. It always led to action. If we claim to follow Christ, shouldn't the same be true of us?

Compassion does not require wealth. Sometimes we convince ourselves that we cannot help because we do not have enough money to make a difference. But kindness has never depended on our bank account. A smile costs nothing. An encouraging word is free. Listening to someone who needs to talk requires only our time. Praying with a hurting friend costs us nothing but means everything to the person who is struggling. Opening a door, sending a card, preparing a meal, offering a ride to a doctor's appointment, or simply sitting beside someone during a difficult season may seem like small gestures. And often the smallest acts become the greatest blessings.

I have found that people rarely remember impressive speeches or expensive gifts. They remember who stood beside them when life became difficult. They remember who showed up. They remember who cared. This promise found in Proverbs 19:17 is just as encouraging as its command. God says that what is given in compassion will be repaid. That does not mean every generous act will result in financial prosperity. God's blessings cannot be measured only in dollars and cents. Sometimes His reward is peace that settles over our hearts during uncertain days. Sometimes it is strength to face tomorrow.

Sometimes it is joy that comes from knowing we have been used for His purposes. Sometimes His blessing comes years later in ways we could never have imagined. But His promise remains certain. God never forgets what is done in His name.

As I think about this verse, I cannot help but remember the greatest gift ever given. Long before we could ever do anything for Him, God demonstrated His love by sending His Son to die for our sins. We were spiritually bankrupt, unable to save ourselves, yet Christ paid a debt we could never repay. When we understand the mercy we have received, showing mercy to others becomes more than an obligation, it becomes a joyful response to God's amazing grace.

As you go through your day today, look and listen. Who needs encouragement today? Who needs someone to notice them? Who needs a helping hand, a listening ear, or a reminder that they have not been forgotten? The opportunities are all around us if we are willing to look.

As we go about our week, may we ask the Lord to open our eyes to the needs around us. May He give us hearts that are quick to notice, hands that are willing to serve, and spirits that reflect the compassion of Christ because a giving heart is a beautiful thing.

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Reverend Steven Temple is the Pastor of The Church on the Hill, Rose Hill, VA. You can reach Pastor Steven at pastor.steven.temple@gmail.com