Life's journey is often marked by moments of receiving – moments of grace, provision, and unexpected kindness. But what if I told you that the true richness in life isn't just about what we hold, but what we willingly let flow through us?
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 NLT [10] For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. [11] Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. [12] So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
This passage, which is in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, peaks volumes about God's intention for our lives. It's not just about Him filling our own cups, but about Him trusting us to be conduits of His blessings to the world around us. Here’s the question: Are we living as a cup that simply receives and holds, or as a straw through which God's goodness can flow to others?
Think about it. A cup, however beautiful or full, ultimately contains its blessings within itself. A straw, on the other hand, becomes a channel, a means by which nourishment and refreshment reach those who thirst. God looks around, not just for those He can bless, but for those who are willing to be instruments of His blessing.
The promise that; "God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.", hinges on our willingness to share. This isn't a guarantee of material wealth as the world defines it, but a promise of abundant resources – time, talent, faith, even our struggles – that can be sown into the lives of others.
Remember the widow with her two small coins? Her offering, though seemingly insignificant, was a profound act of generosity in God's eyes because it represented all she had.
Mark 12:41-44 NLT [41] Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. [42] Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. [43] Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. [44] For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
The myth that we "don't have enough to give" is just that – a myth. We can always offer something. We can be generous with our time, or simply lend a listening ear to someone in need. We can be generous with our faith, sharing the hope and encouragement we've found with those who are searching.
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT [18] Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Even in our own times of scarcity, when we choose to share the little, we have – a meal, a word of comfort, a helping hand – God promises to move in powerful ways. First, we experience spiritual growth as our hearts expand in love and compassion. Second, God uses our seemingly small acts to meet the tangible needs of others. And third, our generosity becomes a catalyst for praise and gratitude to God.
Do you choose to be a cup, content with being filled, or will you embrace the incredible opportunity to be a straw, allowing God's abundant blessings to flow through you and touch the lives of others in ways you can't even imagine? When we open our hands and our hearts to give, God opens doors of blessing in our own lives beyond our wildest expectations.
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 NLT [10] For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. [11] Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. [12] So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
This passage, which is in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, peaks volumes about God's intention for our lives. It's not just about Him filling our own cups, but about Him trusting us to be conduits of His blessings to the world around us. Here’s the question: Are we living as a cup that simply receives and holds, or as a straw through which God's goodness can flow to others?
Think about it. A cup, however beautiful or full, ultimately contains its blessings within itself. A straw, on the other hand, becomes a channel, a means by which nourishment and refreshment reach those who thirst. God looks around, not just for those He can bless, but for those who are willing to be instruments of His blessing.
The promise that; "God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.", hinges on our willingness to share. This isn't a guarantee of material wealth as the world defines it, but a promise of abundant resources – time, talent, faith, even our struggles – that can be sown into the lives of others.
Remember the widow with her two small coins? Her offering, though seemingly insignificant, was a profound act of generosity in God's eyes because it represented all she had.
Mark 12:41-44 NLT [41] Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. [42] Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. [43] Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. [44] For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
The myth that we "don't have enough to give" is just that – a myth. We can always offer something. We can be generous with our time, or simply lend a listening ear to someone in need. We can be generous with our faith, sharing the hope and encouragement we've found with those who are searching.
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT [18] Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Even in our own times of scarcity, when we choose to share the little, we have – a meal, a word of comfort, a helping hand – God promises to move in powerful ways. First, we experience spiritual growth as our hearts expand in love and compassion. Second, God uses our seemingly small acts to meet the tangible needs of others. And third, our generosity becomes a catalyst for praise and gratitude to God.
Do you choose to be a cup, content with being filled, or will you embrace the incredible opportunity to be a straw, allowing God's abundant blessings to flow through you and touch the lives of others in ways you can't even imagine? When we open our hands and our hearts to give, God opens doors of blessing in our own lives beyond our wildest expectations.
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