From an early age, my mother and grandmother taught me the importance of blessing others without receiving anything in return. Every week, or moderately every other week, we’d pop into the automotive, drive into town, and find random people to bless.
Sometimes it was a homeless man standing outside our automotive window. Others, it was a needy man in a nursing home. Most of the time it was a friend, family or stranger who just needed comfort.
When I used to be growing up, I took this habit with me. In highschool, I left notes for teachers and closest friends. I made it my ambition to present up my selfish desires and use all my resources to purchase gifts for others. People generally didn’t understand it. Sometimes neither do I.
When I got to school, I followed in his footsteps. The remarks I often received were striking. People began to query my motives and intentions. I felt hurt. Why couldn’t others understand that I don’t need anything from them? Why couldn’t others understand that I used to be just attempting to represent Jesus in a dark world?
Today, I often encounter the identical remarks.
In my twenties, I enroll in a program to turn out to be a full-time creator. One of the advantages of the classes is that they give attention to constructing others up through blessing. For the past 150 days, now we have been called to bless without expecting anything in return. The results were astonishing.
What the Bible says about blessing others
But should I be shocked? Scripture tells us this: “The generous man will prosper; whoever refreshes others can be refreshed. People curse him who hoards grain, but pray for God’s blessing on him who desires to sell” (Proverbs 11:25-16NIV).
Matthew 25 goes a step further on this verse within the parable of the three servants:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven will be illustrated with the story of a person occurring a protracted journey. He summoned his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. To one he gave five bags of silver, to a different two bags of silver, and to the last one one bag of silver, dividing them in proportion to their ability. Then he went on a journey. “The servant who received five bags of silver began investing money and earned one other five. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who had received one bag of silver dug a hole in the bottom and hid the master’s money.
Notice that God gives each man a distinct amount of silver, but each is entrusted with something. God knew then and knows now what we are able to handle. But beyond what we get is what we do with what we get.
“After a protracted time, their master returned from his trip and called them to present an account of how they’d used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted five bags of silver got here forward with one other five pieces of silver and said, “Lord, you gave me five bags of silver to speculate, and I earned five more.” “The master was filled with praise. “Very well, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I provides you with many more responsibilities. Let’s rejoice together! “The servant who had received the 2 bags of silver got here up and said, “Sir, you gave me two bags of silver to speculate, and I earned two more.” “The Lord said, “All right, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I provides you with many more responsibilities. Let’s rejoice together!
Would you earn five more bags? Maybe even two? What about today? Are you giving what has been given to you? Are you using the gifts God has given you to supply and harvest more for His harvest? Or are you wasting your gifts? Are you wasting time? Are you stingy together with your money? Does your checking account define your heart?
“Then a servant got here with one sack of silver and said, ‘Sir, I knew you were a harsh man, reaping what you didn’t sow and reaping what you didn’t till.’ I used to be afraid of losing your money, so I hid it on the bottom. Look, here’s your a refund. “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I used to be harvesting crops I didn’t plant and harvesting crops I didn’t grow, why didn’t you deposit my money within the bank? At least I could possibly be fascinated about it. “Then he ordered: ‘Take the cash from this servant and provides it to the one who has ten bags of silver. Those who make good use of what they’ve been given can be given much more and can have abundance. But for many who do nothing, even what they’ve can be taken away. Now forged this useless servant into outer darkness, where there can be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (cf.Matthew 25:14-30NLT).
Although it’s a lengthy passage, the Scriptures are clear. We as Christians are called not only to bless others with what now we have received, but in addition to make use of our gifts to convert people to the Kingdom of Heaven. And do it? Blessing others. In any way, in any shape or form that we are able to. As Passion Translation interprets:
Although it’s a lengthy passage, the Scriptures are clear. We as Christians are called not only to bless others with what now we have received, but in addition to make use of our gifts to convert people to the Kingdom of Heaven. And do it? Blessing others. In any way, shape or form we deem appropriate. As Passion Translation interprets:
“Then the King will turn to those on his right hand and say: ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the complete inheritance of the dominion that has been destined for you because the foundation of the world! while you saw that I used to be hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me a drink. When I had nowhere to go, you invited me in, and once I was badly dressed, you covered me. When I used to be sick you took care of me tenderly, and once I was in prison you visited me.” “Then the pious will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, and did we feed you and offer you drink? When did we see you without an overnight stay and invite you inside? When did we see you scarcely clothed and canopy you? When did we see you sick and take excellent care of you, or in prison and visit you? “And the King will answer them: ‘Do you not know? When you took care of one among the smallest ones, my little ones, my real brothers and sisters, you showed me love »” (Matthew 25:34-40Passion translation).
Looking back on the blessings
In the last 150 days, I even have received countless emails from individuals who read my blogs. I even have also received tremendous encouragement and affirmation from those that support me.
God always surprised and blessed me financially, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Always in a way I’ve never seen. Always in a way I never expected. But he’s faithful.
And I actually should not be surprised. However, here I’m. Humiliated and speechless for a way she always supplies me. Because every good thing I do is Him. It is His Spirit that’s in me, and I give all of the glory to God.
Other people’s blessing comes from Him.
Blessing others is such a wealthy blessing.
“Give generously and generous gifts can be returned to you, shaken to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour over you in such abundance that they may exceed the highest! The measure of your generosity becomes the measure of your return” (Luke 6:38Passion translation).
Let or not it’s clear: we don’t give to receive. We give to turn out to be more like Jesus. We give to represent Him. And regardless of how we give or what we decide to present, we keep the 2 most significant commandments: love God and love others.
“This is my commandment: Love one another deeply as I even have loved you. Because the best love of all is the love that sacrifices every thing. And this great love is revealed when a person sacrifices his life for his friends” (John 15:12-14Passion translation).
He can be judged by the world.
They won’t understand it.
But come on anyway.
Bless you anyway.
And keep going.
Those who don’t understand it will not get Him.
Our job is to assist them meet Him.
Agap, Amber
Image credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Ridofranz
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