THE SECRET TO BLESSEDNESS

APRIL 19, 2019

Acts 20:34-35

“Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

When I was visiting Israel, one of the things that was pointed out to me was the vast difference in its two seas.  To the north you have the Sea of Galilee; a fresh water source that both receives and gives out water.  The Sea of Galilee is a bustling area with its shores filled with towns, resorts, restaurants and life.  It is also responsible for the nurturing of many kinds of plant life and fish.  To the south, the Sea of Galilee feeds the Jordan River which freely carries its life-giving water to other parts of the country where it can be used throughout the land.  The Jordan eventually flows into a sea (The Dead Sea) that only receives but does not freely give.  Thus, we observe the life-giving waters of Galilee mixing with the hoarded waters of the Dead Sea where nothing grows and only death abounds.

And so it is with the life of a Christian. We are to take the life and the blessings that we receive from Jesus, and freely share them so that others may benefit.  We do this through our giving, our testifying and our display of love for our neighbors as well as our fellow church members.  Those who hoard however, are much like the Dead Sea.  They not only lack in their charity toward those around them, but they hurt themselves in becoming bitter and self-destructive.     

Parting thought:

Life that only takes cannot be prolonged.