How can we demonstrate generosity like Ziba in our daily lives? Ziba’s Example in 2 Samuel 16:1 “When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came to meet him with a pair of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred cakes of figs, and a skin of wine.” • Ziba acts immediately, meeting David “a little beyond the summit” before need is voiced. • He gives abundantly—transport (donkeys) and sustenance (bread, fruit, wine). • His gifts are practical, timely, and costly. Principles Drawn from Ziba’s Generosity • Anticipate needs rather than waiting to be asked (cf. Galatians 6:10). • Offer more than the bare minimum—give “pressed down, shaken together, running over” (Luke 6:38). • Provide what genuinely helps: food, transport, shelter, tools, time (James 2:15-16). • Honor those in distress, even at personal risk or expense (Proverbs 19:17). • Treat resources as entrusted by God, not possessed for self (Psalm 24:1). Practical Ways to Live This Out • Stock a “ready-to-give” shelf: pantry items, gift cards, or small cash envelopes for quick response. • Keep an extra seat in the car or an empty room open for someone displaced. • Look ahead: pay a utility bill before a struggling friend gets the shut-off notice. • Carry a small care-bag (water, protein bar, tract) to hand to people experiencing homelessness. • Volunteer skills—mechanic work, tutoring, legal advice—at no charge for those who cannot repay. • Include your children: let them help choose groceries for a food drive so generosity becomes family culture. • Budget a percentage specifically labeled “Ziba Fund” so giving is planned, not accidental (1 Corinthians 16:2). • Speak encouragement alongside material help; David needed hope as much as bread (Proverbs 16:24). Encouraging Promises for the Generous • “The generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25) • “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) • “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) • “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” (1 Timothy 6:18) Let Ziba’s loaded donkeys remind us daily: generosity is proactive, plentiful, and practical—and God never fails to replenish what is poured out for His kingdom. |
    |