Series: Blessed Be
Proverbs 11:25 MSG
Galatians 6:7 ESV
2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV
Luke 6:38 ESV
Jeremiah 17:10 ESV
I’m certain that giving begets receiving and most of the time receiving can beget giving.
I believe it’s part of the circle of life as God intended it to be.
Scripture makes the act of giving and receiving abundantly clear.
Proverbs 11:25, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
This morning I watched an entertaining video of a chimp and a parrot. The chimp had food, but he shared it with the parrot. Through the course of the short video their give and take interactions were a sight to behold. Each gave and received. What I noticed is that since the chimp had the food that’s what he gave, the parrot gave love (hugs) in return. They were both blessed!
In addition to that in Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
Paul uses very strong decisive words in his letter to the church in Galatia. Part of his charge to them is a strongly worded “charge” so they will realize as new believers they needed to be aware that God takes actions seriously. Even though failing to meet that criteria will not result in loss of salvation, it will (does) identify the children of God in Jesus as a people who will sow and reap accordingly.
We will reap what we have sown.
Think of it this way, if we plant good strong wheat seed we will grow wheat (of course provided weather conditions and good soil are provided).
But, if we plan to grow wheat and we plant old moldy seed the crop will be questionable. The seed may not produce good strong wheat. Of course today additional measures can be done that will help manage the mold, but if those measures are not taken the crop could suffer.
It’s the same with us.
When dealing with others if we sow hatred and strife we can expect to reap hatred and strife.
The same is true of deceit. If we deceive others we cannot expect a consistent reward of truth from others. If a strong believer is involved that person can pray and seek God’s help and protection from the deception but it’s not a ‘given’. It would require God ‘s intervention.
In addition to that in 2 Corinthians 9:6 we are told, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
According to Paul’s Words from God (and awareness of how God interacts with His children), when we hold back and do not give of our abundance we will not receive abundance.
Looking at that through the lens of love sheds light on what Jesus repeatedly gave and what He wants us to give.
Jesus loved.
He did not withhold God’s love. Jesus even loved those who did not ask to be loved.
So, as difficult as that is, we need to endeavor to love. We are called to love even when we have been slandered ad attacked. However, we do not do that on our own. We ARE human.
So, when we are mistreated we can lay the matter at the feet of Jesus, forgive the person, and let Jesus take over. We must remember that forgiveness (especially in this case) is not something we can accomplish without God’s help.
We do not need to feel like forgiving them. In this case forgiveness is not a feeling. It’s a choice. When we say to God, “I forgive them”, it puts the matter in God’s hands.
In Luke 6:38 we are told what happens when we give, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Giving forgiveness, especially when forgiveness was not sought, will reap a generous reward from God.
God takes forgiving that has not been sought seriously.
In Jeremiah 17:10 the Prophet wrote,
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind,to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
God sees our heart.
God knows what we are thinking.
The promise we are given by the prophet is that God sees and knows us intimately. God knows when we have been hurt and mistreated. And when we choose to turn the matter over to God and forgive the other person who has mistreated us, God will generously give us the fruit of our deeds. Our act of forgiveness that has not been sought is a sweet gift we give to God.
Jesus knew that when He forgave those who attacked and mistreated him by sending Him to the cross. We remember the words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
And so it is with us. When we are mistreated and we forgive anyway, God remembers.
Spiritual Practice: Forgive
Forgive those who have mistreated you. God will remember.
In God, Deborah
Σχόλια