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The More You Give, The More You Get?
One of life’s strangest ironies is we can get some things by giving them up.
Read Matthew 16:25
Jesus tells us if we lose our life, you shall find it. Jesus has previously told us if we love this present life and think it is good and profitable and you enjoy the pleasures of sin then you will lose my blessings now and for eternity. He then tells us if we will stay away from what the world says is so pleasurable (sin). If we, especially in the first century, stay away from idolatry and emperor worship, yes you may lose your life as the book of Revelation tells us but you will find eternal life because you were faithful to Jesus. He is telling Peter here in verse 25 you might have to die for me to gain life. You see you can get spiritual life but you may have to give up your physical life.
Read Proverbs 11:24-25
We again see the principle of getting some things by giving them up. If you scatter then you get more of what you scattered. Notice if you do not scatter or share but hold onto your blessings you end up with nothing (poverty). The person who is liberal and gives to others shall be fat (increase).
God is telling us very plainly here that we get some things by giving those things away. For example, give love- get more love back, give kindness- get more kindness back, give food and drink- get more food and drink back.
God throughout His teachings tells us the surest way to make yourself poor physically and spiritually is to hold on to what you have and never share it.
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
If we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully.
The Lessons for us today are
- Give your whole self to Jesus now and obey his plan of salvation (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). In return you will be saved and blessed now and forever
- In serving Jesus, we should be a servant to others as Jesus is a servant to us (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Remember happiness is not found in all the things we have and keep to ourselves, but is found in giving and sharing the things we have with others. Now get out and give and be prepared to receive what you have given up much, much more in return.
