BE A BLESSING THIS SEASON
TEXT
"He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour" (Psalm 112 verse 9, King James Version).
In this Christmas season, I wish to encourage you to remember the needy that are around you.
I love the rendering of today's Scripture verse in the New Living Translation. It says: "They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honour"
What do you possess in this world that has not been given to you by God? (1st Corinthians 4 verse 7). In Ecclesiastes 5 verse 15, we are told the bitter truth that, "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand". Many mortals would have protested to God on this; but friend, this is God's sentence upon every one that ever sojourned on this planet called earth. 'It is misery that i'm not permitted to take with me even the smallest thing of value that l have so earnestly laboured for whilst here on earth.'
Wait a minute! Did you actually become blessed above others through your earnest labour and efforts? Listen to what the Word of God says: "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, NOR YET RICHES TO MEN OF UNDERSTANDING , nor yet favour to men of skill; BUT TIME AND CHANCE HAPPENETH TO THEM ALL" (Ecclesiastes 9 verse 11). This is another way of telling us that "man's goings are of the Lord;" (Proverb 20 verse 24), and not of himself. "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy" (Romans 9 verse 16). This is really humbling!
Whatever you possess was actually a blessing from God! You were simply favoured by Him with it! It's not that you're better than others! God distributes to every man severally as He will (1st Corinthians 12 verse 11). To one, it may be money; to another, it may be a spiritual gift; to yet another, it may be wisdom or comfort, etc. ALL have something from God. None is empty handed! He has variously distributed to us according to His manifold wisdom to meet the needs of his creatures. Those that understand that they have been blessed to be a blessing to others are wise! The Holy Scriptures say that: "They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honour". (Psalm 112 verse 9, New Living Translation). This is mind blowing! Their good deeds are not only put in memorial, but they are further elevated with greater influence and honor, so they could do greater exploits for God and humanity. In this season of Christmas, dare to be a blessing to someone around you. Share with those in need the manifold blessings of God upon your life and you'll have done something for which the Lord will bless you all the more.
Before I conclude, it's important to emphasize that we all have received one gift or the other from God and that we would do well to appreciate what we've received from Him! What you have received from Him is so, so important; don't ever despise it, or ever allow someone else's gift to intimidate you. ALL gifts are equally important. None is of a lesser value, having proceeded from the same Great and Awesome God. Nothing has ever proceeded from Him that is mean in value. For those that think that money is everything, I ask as follows: Haven't you seen the rich cry? Haven't you seen the rich pay dearly to retain the services of one endowed by God with wisdom? Haven't you seen the rich ply untold kilometers searching for a man blessed by God with one spiritual gift or the other? It's time you recognized your gift and took steps to fan it aflame, so you'd impact your world for Christ; "for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Romans 8 verse 19). Friend, it's your portion to manifest in this land of the living, in Jesus name. Get to understand that your failure to manifest is the reason why so many things go wrong around you. There are others around you that are in pain or agony because you are not manifesting God's Glory. For example, you ought to have stopped the death of that brother or sister if you were properly functioning in the gifts of healing (1st Corinthians 12 verse 9; Mark 16 verse 17 to 18).
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me, to the end that I be a blessing to others, in Jesus' mighty name.