God blesses you to bless others
“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing to others.” (Genesis 12:2 NLT)
Look for ways He can bless you to bless others
Pay attention to God’s guidance and provision.
It was green, it was ugly, it was a blessing!
A few years ago, my wife and I were living in a neighborhood with lots of young families. One day, my next-door neighbor mentioned to us that a family down the street from us had just lost the use of their refrigerator which had just broken beyond repair. They had several young children and the man was between jobs. Not having a working refrigerator was a severe hardship for them.
As soon as I knew about their refrigerator problem, I prayed and asked God to help them get a replacement. I didn’t have money to help them so praying was all I could do for them at the time.
Later, that afternoon, I was running some errands that took me to a local berry farm. As I was waiting to speak to the owner, I overheard a young field worker tell him she wasn’t feeling well and needed to go home. He told her he didn’t have anyone available to take her. So, I spoke up and offered to take her home. As soon as we arrived to her home her mother came outside to greet us and thanked me. I noticed a refrigerator sitting on their front porch and asked why it was there. She told me they had just remodeled their kitchen and it was the wrong color, so they purchased a new one. She said this one worked great but it was forest green and just needed to be taken away. I told her about the family who needed one and she was very delighted to offer it. I backed my truck up to her porch and she helped me load it. I then drove to my neighbor’s house and they were not home. I found someone nearby to help me unload it in their driveway. Later, they got home and was thrilled to find it! It was a miracle they said! Not only was it the perfect size, but it was the perfect color for their kitchen! They always wanted a forest green one!
God will make you a blessing for others
God told Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others” (Genesis 12:2 NLT). This is the first law of blessing: it must flow outwardly.
God will bless you for blessing others
God blesses the person who helps other people. In fact, Jesus guarantees this blessing. He said, “I tell you the truth . . . no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30 NIV)
Therefore…
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4 ESV)
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Cor. 9:8-11 ESV)