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Why You Have Been Blessed by God

Why You Have Been Blessed by God

Last updated on: October 3, 2013 at 4:30 am by Jack Alexander

Why You Have Been Blessed by God 2013-10-03T04:15:48-06:00 Jack Alexander

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Make no mistake about it: You have been blessed for a reason.

When God pours out his goodness upon us, He has other objectives than your mere happiness. He blesses us so that we may bless others.

We could call it the circle of love. God gives to us so we will give to others who will then give praise and glory back to God. In the end, it’s about Him.

This cycle of God-induced generosity is clear in God’s covenant words to Abraham in Genesis 12:

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing….”

Blessed to Be a Blessing

When God blesses us with resources – time, money, influence, space, talents – we tend to think of them as our own. In fact, we even use possessive language like my, mine, and yours.

Although it’s true that a faithful steward is one who takes ownership to a significant extent, it is ownership assumed on behalf of the true owner. It’s an authority to be wielded solely in accordance with the interests of the true owner.

Anything else is a breach of trust.

Somehow we often lose sight of this simple truth. When we fail to be a blessing to others with God’s blessings to us, we aren’t just missing out on more good stuff. We’re falling short of the glory of God.

Intentional Stewardship

Most experts say in leadership and management circles that the best employees are those who “take ownership” of the company mission. But that too only goes so far.

If the employees moved into the board room out of their sense of “ownership” of the company and began making sno-cones, those same leaders would say that their subordinates had crossed a line. They would say that the employees had forgotten their place as stewards. And they would be right.

A steward should take responsibility for ensuring – don’t miss this – that the owner’s stuff gets used for the owner’s purposes. Anything less is mismanagement at best and possibly dereliction of duty.

Why did the Owner of all things give stuff to you? So you could steward them in accordance with His wishes. He has blessed you so that you may be a blessing – and so that blessings would multiply as you participate in this eternal circle of love.

Are you being intentional about blessing others with what God has given you? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

Preview the Living Generously film series at ReImagine Generosity.com to see how your church might use them to think Biblically about giving.

Jack Alexander

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