Blessing - the "Healthy Alternative to Greed"

Proverbs 11:23-26

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

The Bible reminds us frequently of our need to think of others. Of course, this is modeled perfectly in the life and sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus when He (the innocent one) volunteered to leave the glories of heaven to come to earth to fulfill His commission to redeem the lost.

We cannot do what Jesus did, nor are we called to. But, the wisdom literature of the Bible instructs us in a pattern of healthy living that calls us to let go of what is "ours" and commit it to the Kingdom.

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others hemself will be refreshed."

How refreshing! Does the Bible tell us (me) that we are really healthier when we give our time, talent and treasure away to those in need? Yes, indeed!

When we, as "stewardship agents", commit ourselves to blessing others with our gifts we are exercising the same disciplines that we ask our donors to; give out of our blessing in response to what Christ has done for us.

As an aside, when we put others in the center of our view, our own problems and challenges seem to to shrink; that is a good thing, too.

There is no act or thought that we have that does not have a spiritual dimension. Let's ask the Lord to give us that heart for others so that the next interaction we have enriches someone else.