Thoughts on giving (1)

Paul wrote, “As you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.” What’s Paul talking about here? Giving! God has not called you to be a reservoir that stores up all His blessings for yourself, but a river that carries His blessing to others. Many Christians have learned how to get, but not give. If you get into a posture of being a getting Christian without being a giving Christian, your life of faith will wither and die on the vine. There are two seas in Palestine, and both are fed by the Jordan River. One sea is fresh, brimming with life. Fish are in it, splashes of green adorn its banks, and trees spread their branches over it, stretching out their thirsty roots to sip of its nourishing waters. But the other sea has no life at all. No fish can live in it. No one can drink of it for the water is foul and putrid. Yet both are fed by the Jordan River. What’s the difference? The Sea of Galilee receives water from the Jordan, but it also gives. For every drop that flows into it, another drop flows out. But the other sea hoards its water. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gets and keeps, and it’s called the Dead Sea. Don’t miss the point here! When you hoard and keep your blessings to yourself, you die spiritually. But when you give generously, you come to life spiritually.