𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐𝟓:𝟏𝟒 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧.

Does your giving exceed your talking? Or does your talking exceed your giving? Have you kept all your promises to give? Or have you disappointed some by not performing? It is much easier to talk about helping than to actually do it. It is much easier to boast of generosity than to actually be generous. If you have opened your mouth, it is time to pay. In a dry location like Israel, where Solomon lived, clouds and wind brought great hope of rain for a people dependent on agriculture for their survival (Pr 3:20; 16:15; Lev 26:3-5; Deut 11:10-15; I Kgs 18:41-46; Job 36:26-28; Ps 68:9; 147:8; Jer 5:24; Zech 10:1). The joy would have been great at the sight of clouds on the horizon and the feeling of wind. But it was a terrible disappointment when the clouds and wind did not produce any rain. This proverb is a simile, where the comparison drives the interpretation. You must identify the boaster and the false gift to understand the lesson. Is the false gift a bribe, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? Is the false gift a worthless trinket, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? Is the false gift a token of insincere love, and the boaster the giver or receiver of it? No, in all three cases! The comparison shows it is a promised gift that is never given, and the boaster is the pompous man pretending to be a benefactor. Clouds and wind brought the expectation of rain, which caused gladness and hope in those needing it. When the clouds and wind did not produce the desired and needed rain, there was great disappointment and grief. A man promising to give without performing is just as disappointing and frustrating. The lesson? Keep your commitments of helping others. Never let your offers or promises of giving exceed your actual performance. Job’s righteousness included his great care of the expectations of the needy (Job 29:13; 31:16). When Pharaoh’s butler was released from prison and restored to his job on Pharaoh’s birthday, he fervently agreed with Joseph that he would put in a good word to Pharaoh to seek his release as well. But the butler forgot all about the agreement for two long years (Gen 40:1-23). Can you imagine Joseph’s disappointment, as days and weeks went by without a word from the butler or Pharaoh? The clouds and wind had brought no rain. Most men love to talk the talk – they will tell you with little prompting about how kind and generous they are; but it is hard to find a faithful man that walks the walk (Pr 20:6). The Law of Moses called it defrauding to hold back day wages even one day (Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14-15). And Solomon condemned both holding back help from your neighbor and/or promising to help him but postponing the actual giving of help (Pr 3:27-28). These talkers promise the moon or more, because it is easy and effective to buy the praise of men this way. But these liars either do not intend to perform, are unable to perform, or forget about the commitment when other matters take their attention. In all three cases, the promised expectation becomes a vain lie. Those that boast about such lies are terrible. Righteous men never mislead where the expectations and hopes of the needy are at stake. Consider politicians. Solomon wrote this proverb in the midst of several about kings and governing (Pr 25:2-7,15). Rulers want desperately to be popular rulers, so they are sorely tempted to offer incredible future favors to secure their popularity. It is so very easy to promise special benefits to each group of constituents. In democracies and republics, where leaders are elected by the masses, the unkept promises are Legion. If you are a leader of any sort, make sure that you fulfill all your promises without fail.