“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Acts 2:44-45
Back in the day, while living in Haiti, there were many times that the above words from the Book of Acts seemed to be living right before me. In the rural areas where small congregations met on the Sabbath to worship in their Pastors house. The families and neighbors met with and cared for each other. I can still recall when living on our farm in Seward County when families helped one another out when they faced challenges.
It doesn’t seem like too many today in our land does that. Not many of us living in the US, on this side of Heaven, have ever sacrificed like the early church in Acts. These early Christians didn’t give just their money. They were generous with everything they had. They were radically generous.
I am sure that many of you know by now that God doesn’t just give you resources for your own enjoyment but rather to make a difference in the world around you. God never blesses you just so you can sit on what you have. He blesses you so you can bless others.
The attached photo today is from Back in the Day, black and white, when my hair was longer and my daughters were attending Lincoln East High School. We were at the 4P Ranch north of Bridgeport, NE where my daughter’s maternal grandparents lived. My oldest was getting her Senior pictures taken there. I was 46 at the time and beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Since today happens to be my birthday, I thought that it would be a good thing to knock off another item on my Bucket List and share a snippet of wisdom; four things that will prayerfully help you to remember as you use your blessings as God intended.
Your blessings should flow to others. This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly. How do you bless others? By meeting a need, whether it is for physical or emotional support, financial help, or practical advice.
When you bless others, God takes care of your needs. Read Luke 18:29-30 that tells us not to worry about your needs. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” When you focus on helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, because He’s much better at handling your challenges than you are.
Your blessings to others will come back to you. The more you bless and help others, the more God blesses your life. You cannot out give God. There have been many times when I imagined God saying to me: “We’ll play a little game here. Let’s see who can give the most. But I’m always going to win! Because the more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.” You can’t out give God.
The more you’re blessed by God, the more He expects you to help others.
You are blessed to be a blessing. That’s a hopeful, encouraging truth to remember. In this sin filled world that urges you to just look out for yourself, number one, find ways to be even more generous to the people God has placed in your life.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay