Encouragement: Bless Others
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
6 Remember this saying, “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” 7 Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. 8 God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. 9 The Scriptures say, “God freely gives his gifts to the poor, and always does right.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Memory Verse
Proverbs 11:25
25 Generosity will be rewarded: Give a cup of water, and you will receive a cup of water in return.
Anna was eleven years old when she began her first business. She planned and coordinated with other friends who could babysit and with parents who needed babysitters. She scheduled and worked hard and was blessed with a good paycheck. She knew it wasn’t just about making money, because she had a plan that would bless others. That summer she invested in inviting others to summer camp who couldn’t afford it. She was blessed to share that week with her friends.
God encourages us to bless others. But what does “blessing others” look like? We can bless others with our words, our actions, and our attitude.
It’s not just about money or possessions. Sharing what you have with others is the important thing. Think about what you have and how you might share that with others. Consider that your time, your interest, and your effort are also things that you can share.
A kind word, a cheerful smile, a new friendship, and a helping hand around the house are just some ways of giving to someone else.
Check your attitude. Are you grouchy or happy to share? Giving should come from the heart and not because you feel that you have to do it (2 Corinthians 9:7). When we are happy about sharing, we can call it a blessing. The joy of seeing others happy because of what we have shared becomes a blessing to us (Proverbs 11:25).
The more we bless others, the more like Jesus we become. Jesus is a wonderful example to us of how we might be a blessing to others. Today looks like a great day to begin to grow by sharing with someone else.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you that we each have something to share with someone else. Help me be a blessing to someone else today with my words, my actions, and my attitude. Amen.Related Resources
Beth Fellinger
Beth Fellinger has been hanging out in ministry for 40 plus years as a pastor, as the Canadian Youth Director for Alpha, leader of the local region for Mothers Who Care, and also serving coffee and cinnamon buns to neighbours at the Ugly Couch Care (aka Turquoise Table). She and her husband Barry have two children, two in-law kids and 5 grandchildren. Nothing gives Beth greater joy than introducing people to Jesus.