Go! And… Refresh Others - Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
INTRODUCTION — A THIRSTY WORLD NEEDS A REFRESHED CHURCH
Church, every generation tries to satisfy its thirst in different ways.
Some chase success, others chase comfort, entertainment, money, or relationships.
But the world is spiritually dehydrated because it has cut itself off from the Fountain—the Lord Himself.
And in a spiritually thirsty world, God calls His people to be a refreshing presence.
This is not only a command; it is a calling. It is not only a blessing to others; it is a blessing to the one who obeys.
Today’s message is simple:
If you want to be refreshed, you must become a refresher.
If you want to walk in the overflow of God’s grace, you must live with an open hand and an open heart.
Because the truth of Proverbs 11:25 is this:
A giving life is a flourishing life.
A generous heart is a refreshed heart.
A Christlike servant is a blessed servant.
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT): “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
This is not motivational sentiment.
This is God’s Word—God’s wisdom—God’s character revealed.
And like every verse in Scripture… it points us to Jesus.
1. CONTEXT: GENEROSITY AS GOD’S WISDOM IN ACTION
The book of Proverbs often contrasts two paths:
the way of the righteous
the way of the wicked
Proverbs 11 focuses on what righteous, God-fearing people look like:
They speak truthfully
They walk humbly
They deal honestly
They trust the Lord
And—they live generously
Generosity is not a side-issue in Scripture.
It is a marker of the heart.
It reveals trust.
It reveals faith.
It reveals spiritual maturity.
The early church expressed this so beautifully that Acts 2 says:
“They shared everything they had.” (NLT)
Why?
Because when you know the generosity of God, you cannot be tight-fisted with His blessings.
2. WHAT DOES PROVERBS 11:25 REALLY MEAN?
“The generous will prosper…”
The Hebrew word for generous here is ???????? (berakah)—meaning a person who carries blessing, one who bestows favour, one whose life becomes a conduit of grace.
It is not merely giving possessions—it is giving oneself.
And prosper (Hebrew: ??????? — dashen) means to be enriched, to grow fat, to flourish, to thrive, to overflow.
This is not a prosperity gospel—it is a generosity gospel.
God is saying:
A stingy soul shrivels.
A generous soul expands.
A self-focused life dries up.
A Christ-centred, others-focused life overflows.
“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
The word refresh (Hebrew: ????? — ravah) means:
to water thoroughly
to drench
to satisfy
to restore to life
It evokes the picture of dry desert soil being transformed by rain.
God is teaching a profound spiritual principle:
When you pour into others, I will pour into you.
This is not karma.
This is covenant.
This is how God delights to work in His children.
He fills those who pour out.
He blesses those who bless.
He refreshes those who refresh.
3. JESUS: THE ULTIMATE FULFILMENT OF PROVERBS 11:25
Every Proverb finds its deepest meaning in Christ.
Jesus was the Most Generous Person Who Ever Lived
He gave:
His time to the broken.
His compassion to the rejected.
His strength to the weary.
His teaching to the lost.
His mercy to the sinner.
His life for the world.
Paul says: “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)
Jesus refreshed the world by His cross.
He poured Himself out fully—body, blood, breath.
And the Father exalted Him, raised Him, and refreshed Him with resurrection life.
This is Proverbs 11:25 in action:
He refreshed others, and He was refreshed.
4. THE GOSPEL CALL: YOU CANNOT REFRESH OTHERS UNTIL YOU ARE REFRESHED BY CHRIST
Before you can give spiritual water, you must drink from the Living Water.
Before you can overflow with grace, you must receive grace.
Before you can bless others, you must be blessed by the saving power of Jesus.
Jesus said: “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!” — John 7:38 (NLT)
If you have never repented of your sin, surrendered your life to Jesus, and received His saving grace—your soul is dry, your heart is empty, and your spirit cannot overflow.
But Christ offers forgiveness.
Christ offers refreshment.
Christ offers eternal life.
You cannot refresh others until Jesus refreshes you.
Today, if you are thirsty—come to Him.
If you are weary—come to Him.
If you are sinful—come to Him.
If you are broken—come to Him.
He will refresh your soul.
5. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: HOW TO REFRESH OTHERS DAILY
Let’s bring this home.
God calls us to be fountains of refreshment in a dry world.
How?
1. Refresh with your words
Proverbs 18:21 says life and death are in the tongue.
Speak life. Speak hope. Speak Scripture. Speak kindness.
2. Refresh with your compassion
A listening ear can be a drink of cold water to a hurting soul.
3. Refresh with your resources
Give generously. Meet needs. Support Gospel work.
You cannot outgive God.
4. Refresh with your time
People are thirsty for presence.
Time is one of the most generous gifts you can give.
5. Refresh with the Gospel
There is nothing more refreshing than telling someone that Jesus saves.
Billy Graham once said: “The greatest form of giving is sharing the Gospel of Christ.”
6. Refresh with encouragement
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
Be God’s messenger of strength.
7. Refresh with forgiveness
A forgiven person refreshes others by becoming a forgiving person.
THE DEAD SEA VS. THE SEA OF GALILEE
Two seas in Israel.
Both fed by the same Jordan River.
But one is full of life—the Sea of Galilee—because it receives and gives.
The other is dead—the Dead Sea—because it receives and never gives.
You become spiritually alive when you receive the love of Christ and give it away.
You become spiritually stagnant when you only receive but never pour out.
Church, do not be a Dead Sea believer.
Be a Galilee believer—alive, generous, flowing, refreshing.
7. PROMISE AND CHALLENGE
Proverbs 11:25 is both a promise and a challenge:
Promise: God will refresh you.
Challenge: But you must refresh others.
The more you pour out, the more God pours in.
The more you bless, the more God fills you.
The more generous you become, the more Christlike you become.
Go! And… Refresh Others.
8. GOSPEL INVITATION
Friend, you cannot give what you do not have.
You cannot refresh others until you first drink deeply of the grace of Christ.
If you have not repented of your sins…
If you have not surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Saviour…
If you have not trusted Him with your life…
Then you are spiritually dry.
And the Living Water is calling your name.
Come to Jesus today.
Confess your sin.
Lay down your pride.
Receive His forgiveness.
Receive His refreshment.
Receive eternal life.
He died for you.
He rose for you.
He offers salvation to you.
Turn to Him today.
CONCLUSION
Church, God is calling us to be a refreshing people:
refreshing in our words
refreshing in our love
refreshing in our service
refreshing in our giving
refreshing in our witness
The world is thirsty.
The church is the well.
And Jesus is the Living Water.
Go! And… Refresh Others.
