Blessed to Be a Blessing

As long as it is theoretical, we are fine with the idea of giving. But for many of us ...

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Friday, March 17, 2006

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. —2 Corinthians 9:10

A pastor once asked a farmer in his congregation, "If you had $200, would you give $100 to the Lord?"

"Yes I would, Pastor," the farmer said.

So the pastor asked, "If you had two cows, would you give one of those cows to the Lord?"

"Yes, I would," he replied.

Then the pastor said, "Now, if you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord?"

"Now that isn't fair," the farmer said. "You know I have two pigs."

As long as it is theoretical, we are fine with the idea of giving. But for many of us, when it gets down to the reality of what we have, it's another issue. Yet as we give to God, He will give to us. The Bible says, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). God has blessed you to be a blessing to others. This verse is not saying you should give to get. But it is saying that when you have received from God, you should give, and God will bless your generosity and give you more to give again.

God makes a radical promise in the Book of Malachi: "Prove Me now in this . . . if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). God will bless as we give to Him.

Used with Permission