Reading this morning, I am challenged to reflect on the thought, “Am I Laying The Ground Work For The Future”?
There is a story of the prophet Elisha being ministered to by a woman through her acts of kindness.
2 Kings 4:8-10 (NASB)Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. [9] She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. [10] “Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
Let me unpack what I saw:
1) Prominent – She had the means to help others and didn’t just spend her wealth on herself and her comforts. God’s heart is that we would be generous and not stingy with what we have.
Question:
Do I use the means of my success in life for just my own benefit or do I look for places to invest in others?
2) Persuasions – She used her ability to influence by showing acts of kindness towards others. She didn’t just use her ability to persuade for her own advancement, but for the advancement of others.
Question:
Do I use my abilities to persuade people for their good or just my own benefit?
3) Provision – She didn’t just invest a “Token” act of kindness, but gave to the point of changing her household arrangements. True generosity is more than an act, it is a lifestyle.
Question:
Am I content to give a “One Time” act of kindness or is my soul full enough that I can and desire to give towards someone else’s future?
John 7:38 (NASB)“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
If you care to read further in the story you would notice that because of her generous heart Elisha offered to release a miracle for her.
What if our acts of kindness were really bigger than we thought? What is our acts of kindness released future blessing for ourselves as well as others?
Let me leave a caution:
If we give to get we are fooling ourselves into thinking we are opening doors of blessing. God is not fooled by deceptive motives and he looks at the reasons why we do things. He delights to be generous with us, but not if it makes us more selfish or proud.
May we all ask God to fill our souls so that we have an abundance to be generous with thankful hearts. If that happened today wonderful things will happen through us and towards us!
Pastor Dale
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