You are Blessed to be a Blessing!

I have a treat for you today!  My friend, Jay Randolph, founder of Favor Communications International, is sharing a word with us today from his "Weekly Word" e-newsletter.  You can read more about Jay, Favor Comm, and sign up for the "Weekly Word" at www.fcint.org.  Here is a great word from Jay about generosity!  Enjoy

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.             Philippians 1:21-26

Faced with the tremendous opportunity of being able to go home to the Lord in heaven, Paul was not only thinking of himself. When confronted with the very real possibility of being executed due to his faithful witness of Christ, the apostle was more concerned about staying and helping others than he was about escaping all his problems and enjoying his eternal rewards. He simply practiced what he preached.

In the very next chapter, Paul encouraged believers to esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3). He continued saying that everyone should look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). The Lord Himself is our example (Phil. 2:5-11). Timothy and Epaphroditus, other early church leaders, were good examples too (Phil. 2:19-30). Mature believers in Christ are not self-centered; they're Jesus and others-centered.

In today's world, I find myself coming across more and more people who are completely self-absorbed. Even in the church, so many are just focused on themselves. Their wants. Their needs. Their problems. Their interests. Me, myself, and I (the three of us) are the center of all their thoughts and conversation! Seldom do they esteem others better than themselves. Not very often do they look beyond their own interests to the interests of others. Instead of dying to self and cultivating the fruit of self-control, self has free reign (Gal. 5:22-23).

As maturing believers in Christ, our focus is on worshiping Jesus and serving other people. We've received our needs met through our intimate relationship with the Lord, so we're able to overflow His love to other people. We recognize that we're blessed to be a blessing. As His provision goes through us, there's plenty for others too. Instead of being like the Dead Sea, which receives intake but has no outflow, we are open channels for God's living waters to flow through us to those all around. We lift Him up, and we reach out to others. As we interact with different people, we're constantly alert and asking the Lord, "How can I be a blessing to them?"

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). God is the biggest Giver of all. He gave His only Son for us (John 3:16-17). Let's manifest His unselfish nature. Let's consider the other people in our life, and how the Lord wants to use us to minister to them. It may be a smile, a hug, or a listening ear. It might be a word of encouragement or a gift of some kind. Just be observant of others' needs and open to the Holy Spirit's prompting. He'll lead you!

Father, thank You that all our needs are met in You. Our spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial needs are abundantly supplied through what Your Son, our Lord, accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection. We are now complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). As we interact with others in Your body and in the world, may we overcome self-centeredness by fixing our eyes on You and looking out for the interests of others. Amen!