“I will bless you … and you will be a
blessing.” (Genesis 12:2 NIV)
1. Our blessings should flow to
others.
The Bible
teaches us that we are blessed not just so that we can feel good, not just so
we can be happy and comfortable, but so that we will bless others. God told
Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you ... and you will be a blessing”
(NIV). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.
How do you
bless others? By serving a need, whether it is physical or emotional support,
financial help, or practical advice. "Forget yourselves long enough to
lend a helping hand" (Philippians 1:4 MSG).
2. When we bless others, God takes
care of our needs.
God
promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of our
needs. There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants
to help other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. In Luke 18, Jesus
says, “I guarantee this. Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God
will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal
life in the next world to come.”
When you
care about helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems.
And that’s a real blessing, for he’s much better at handling your difficulties
than you are.
3. Our blessings to others will come
back on us.
The more
you bless other people and the more you help others, the more God blesses your
life. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back,
but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing” (MSG). You
cannot out-give God. The more you try to bless other people in the world around
you, the more God says, “I’m going to pour blessings out on you. We’ll play a
little game here. Let’s see who will win. Let’s see who can give the most. The
more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.”
4. The more we’re blessed by God,
the more he expects us to help others.
Jesus said
it this way in Luke 12: “Much is required from the person to whom much is
given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT).
We are blessed to be a blessing.
Talk About It
- Based on the blessings of your life, what would you say God
expects from you?
- What are the needs around you for which you can use your
gifts to be a blessing?
by jon@gracecreates.com
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