Nothing left over …

Why does the church seem to be so impotent in our culture?

Perhaps one reason is similar to the problem folklore tells us Mark Twain occasionally suffered while working as a pilot on steamboats. When coming into a town, he would often blow the whistle. He was occasionally known to blow it so long that he ran out of power, and drifted downstream while the power built up again.

Christians are sometimes like that — they use the blessings of God for themselves (“blowing their own whistles”), and then when they need it, find themselves depleted. The Apostle Paul warns us against such behavior.

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too,” Philippians 2:3-4.

Paul describes to the Corinthians God’s plan to provide not only for the needs of His children, but to bless them so they can be a blessing to others.

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God,” 2 Corinthians 9:8-11.

Do you purposely look out for the interests of others? Or do you empty out your blessings by blowing your own whistle?

Scotty