Proverbs 18:16 : 'A gift makes room.'

A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.


                                                                                                (Proverbs 18:16)


Yes, it is true that an inner gift can make room.


A gift is something that you give to another person or to many people,


The above verse does not mention ‘gift’ as a key. Though a gift can play the role of a key opening a door, it is interesting that Proverbs 18:16 states that the gift will make room. In other words, where the gifted is, the gift (once it is used through giving) can expand the size of the space where he/she is.


Notice that the verse describes the expansion of space without mentioning a door. In other words, even if doors are severely closed, a gift (once it is used through giving) will expand the size of the space where the gifted person is to the point where the gifted may not even need to open the door.


A gift (once it is used through giving) can make so much of space to the point of making some closed doors irrelevant. This explains why some givers manage to expand themselves in deserts or in underdeveloped countries to the point of never wanting to move in economically rich countries. However, if God instructs you to move somewhere, then you should obey.


Proverbs 18:16 does not confine the term ‘gift’ solely to ‘inner spiritual gifts’ such as ‘speaking in tongues, prophecy, teaching the Bible, etc… The term is expressed in an open ended manner. In other words, the term ‘gift’ refers to anything in our possessions that we give.



In marriage, the habits of making each other gifts can expand the longevity of marriage. Those gifts are not just limited to material things but they can also include time, sex, graciousness, and other forms of dedication. Those gifts in marriage can make room to the point where neither of the spouses will be interested in walking out through the door. The opposite can also be true: ‘when the spouses are acting stingy, the space will shrink to the point where there will be no air and either one or both spouses will choose to walk out through the door.’



You can apply Proverbs 18:16 in many situations(business, politics,beauty, parenthood, ministry, music,career, society,etc…) and for all the possessions you have inside of you (spiritual gifts) and in your hands (the physical or material gifts).


Where there is space, people can breathe. One of the main reasons why many cannot breathe in society, in marriages, and in many countries is because of ‘stinginess’.

Stinginess shrinks the space and chokes people.


Proverbs 11:24 states the following: “ One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”


In other words, a stingy person chokes himself/herself to ruin first. Proverbs 11:24 is not only about money but it also includes other gifts. 

In Matthew  25 :31-46  for the people who were stingy, there was no room in Heaven. However, the generous were given a space in eternity with the Lord.

The other parts of Proverbs 18:16 states that a gift (once it is used through giving) brings him before the great. 

I will not expand too much on the second part of Proverb 18:6 but I would like us to think about the following:

“If a gift (once it is used through giving) can bring us before the great, it also means that our giving can determine the direction of our life.”


In these current times that we are living, it matters that Christians find themselves in front of the great in order to exert a positive influence.

However, if we act stingy, how shall we exert great influence?


Become an expert in giving and expand the space of your life.