Giving and Blessing

Coming up this next week is Thanksgiving – a day this nation sets aside to consider all of the blessings that we have.  Despite all of the flaws, it is still the best place on earth to be and we do have so very much for which to be thankful.  God has poured out so much goodness on America that when you consider how life has developed here over time, it is enough to boggle your mind.  I personally do not believe that we would have ever seen the advancements that have been made without the hand of God being on the founders of this country and without the firm belief and dedication to Him those founders exhibited.  We have a God that loves to bless His people.

Matthew 7:11 (AMP) says this:  “If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.”

I believe that God gives us much more than we even deserve simply out of His deep and abiding love.  I also believe that if there are things that we need in our lives, we should have the confidence – and more importantly, the faith – to ask Him for them.  At the end of that verse quoted above, it says things are given “to those who keep on asking Him.”  

“…we pray with high hopes but low expectations.”  “He gave us unequivocal, mind-boggling promises about the power of prayer.  And yet we still think He might be reluctant to hear us in our hour of need.”  “This is what sin does to people.  It corrupts our understanding of God.”  “We pray without faith – and therefore without much result when we start with a lesser view of God.  The one who comes to God with the assumption that He blesses will find that He actually does.” * 

One more firm belief that I have is that when we are able and capable to share with others that have needs, we should do so; and, as a result – provided it is done with the right attitude – we will in turn be blessed even more.  One law of nature is this – you reap what you sow and this overflows into our lives in general.  

“But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.”  (2 Corinthians 9:6 TLB)  

“It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself.”  (Proverbs 11:24-25 TLB)     

Jesus speaking in Luke 6:38 says this:  “‘For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.’”  

These are difficult days, with the cost of so many essentials making it difficult for some families to provide all that they need.  So this week, look around you for those in need – or, for services that provide for those in need – and if you are able, consider giving something to help.  No matter how much or how little, it can make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.  Giving and blessing others is never done in vain.

May you have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Written by Karran Martin – November 18, 2022

*Quotes from Chris Tiegreen