Blessing Others

Hard work pays off in ways we can never fully appreciate. We work hard and are rewarded by others. Being rewarded by other people is only part of our blessing. All good things come from God and He is always blessing us, but the blessings are never just for us.

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2^nd Corinthians 9.6-11

In today’s lesson from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, we are reminded about the responsibility we bear for the blessings that God bestows upon us. That’s right. Every time God blesses us with abundance, it isn’t for us. It is for others.

It is one of the hardest things to learn about God’s blessings. We tend to feel special when God blesses us. We express our love by thanking God in our prayers, but we forget there was a greater purpose for the blessing. Now that we have ‘enough’ we must share with others.

We hear this reminder also in the wedding service when we pray that God pours out upon the couple rich blessings so that the couple may be a blessing to others. If we keep everything God has given us, we are no better than the nonbelievers who rack up millions for themselves.

It doesn’t matter how many times we say, “Thank you” to God if we turn around and horde the blessings He provides. Tithing to the Church is one way we are obedient to God, as Saint Paul says our blessings “may provide in abundance for every good work.”

Saint Paul isn’t talking about our day job. He is talking about the work of the Church, to spread the Gospel of Christ and to invite others into a relationship with Him. The work of the Church is the continuation of the work of Christ, which He began when He was on Earth.

The Church is His hands and feet. The Church is His mouth to the world. His Church is the union of His believers to Him and each other. When He blesses one of us, He blesses all of us, so together we can bless others.

Once we understand the blessings are for others, the only thing that remains is to understand ‘how much is enough’ for us to have. Enough is different for every person admittedly, but tithing is a good ‘benchmark’ for our giving. If keeping 90% for us isn’t enough, we want too much.

Today I invite you to consider your giving to the Church. Are you giving from the position of blessing others, or are you giving a token of your blessings to be counted among the membership of the Church? Are you keeping more than you need, or enough?

If you are new to giving to the Church, or new to tithing, I invite you to spend the month giving 10% of what you earn to the Church. You will quickly realize that 90% is more than enough. Sure, you could always spend more, but enough is enough. Give it a try and bless others for a change.