Blessed to Bless Somebody

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive - Acts 20:35

The Christian has a distinct duty to support the needs of others. It is part of what the faith upholds as we espouse to be of one accord and having all things in common. How we treat others is an indication of what we think about God's creation. It says a lot about us, too.

Download our FREE tip sheet on giving to the poor & needy

The Book of Proverbs offers us an indication about the blessing of the Lord. "The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22). It is a blessing that indeed offers to make "one rich," but it "adds no sorrow with it." All the worry and fuss that consumes our time is worthless and pointless. Our blessing from the Lord is not meant to serve as a burden to us.

Giving is a key to understanding the truth about the blessing of the Lord. You can freely give of what you have been given if you have the proper perspective and understanding of God's blessing on your life. Combine that with the passage from Acts where the Lord is quoted as saying that it is more blessed to give,

Have you been blessed by the Lord? If so, then you are one step closer to becoming a blessing. 

Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce today includes a special guest Mz. Sharifah, a cancer survivor who advocates for and supports other cancer patients along their cancer journey. Her fundraisers include raising funds for chemo kits that are designed and delivered to local hospitals and cancer canters for patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Tune in live at 10 AM PST and hear more of her story and you can help her help others by being a blessing.

Here is a short list of tips on blessing others:

• Prepare your hearts before you place it in another's hand.
• To freely give, you must release what you are giving from both your heart and your head as much as from your hands.
• No blessing is meant for you to boast or brag about your wonderful work; offer praise to God for blessing you.

He who gives to the poor shall not lack . . . – Proverbs 28:27

Counting on the Wrong Thing

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.- Psalm 108:12 (NIV)

Let's put this in perspective.

If you have a legitimate problem, then you are in need of some real help.

What some folks have to offer just isn't real help.  It is worthless.

The plea within this psalm is for help or aid against an enemy or foe.  Actually, it is a plea for help from a specific enemy.  The psalm says the enemy.  Thus, the enemy must be known by both the victim and rescuer.

We realize in the midst of our own turmoil and struggles how useless some types of help amounts to when weighed against what we are going through at the time.  

TALK IS CHEAP

Talk is cheap when you need to spring into action.  Mere words offer little consolation when you are in the heat of a major conflict that needs immediate resolutions.

MONEY ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Money can do a lot, but it doesn't solve everything.  In all honesty, some of the "true riches" that the Lord spoke of were the things that stood out in life despite how much money one had accumulated.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN DO MORE HARM THAN HELP

If someone is going to stab you in your back, they have to get close to you.  The attack is in close proximity to you.  No one can get any closer to you than family, even some friends.  Beware that it often hurts our hearts more that it someone we cared for and loved than the actual damage caused by the gossip, innuendo  and smear campaigns.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. - Psalm 118:8 (NIV)

Get your help from the right source.  Know that your real help comes from on high.  Tap into the Lord's powerful ability and availability.  Let Him know your troubles.  Give them over to Him in sincere, consecrated prayer.  Allow Him to empower you with the Spirit of God that embodies every believer.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.- Psalm 146:3 (NIV)

If you tell Him, trust Him.  If you trust Him, take every ounce of what He offers to you in faith and with joy, knowing that He gives us what we do not deserve (grace) and that He spares us of what we truly deserve (mercy).

You can count on Him.