All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)
No one sacrificed like the early church. The Bible says in Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (NIV). These early Christians didn’t give just their money. They were generous with everything they had. They were radically generous.
God doesn’t just give you resources for your own enjoyment but to make a difference in the world around you. God never blesses you just so you can sit on what you have. He blesses you so you can bless others.
Here are four things you need to remember as you use your blessings as God intended.
Your blessings should flow to others.
“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:4 The Message). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.
How do you bless others? By meeting a need, whether it is for physical or emotional support, financial help, or practical advice.
When you bless others, God takes care of your needs.
Luke 18:29-30 says, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of God’s kingdom will certainly receive many times as much in this life and will receive eternal life in the world to come” (GW).
When you focus on helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, because he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are.
Your blessings to others will come back to you.
The more you bless and help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 says, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing” (The Message).
The more you’re blessed by God, the more he expects you to help others.
Jesus said it this way in Luke 12:48: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT).
You are blessed to be a blessing. That’s a hopeful, encouraging truth to remember. In a world that urges you to just look out for yourself, find ways to be radically generous to the people God has placed in your life.
Teaching is a passion, and my experience as a teacher has been beautiful, emotional and fulfilling. Over the years, I’ve watched the student – teacher equation evolve: From Guru, as all-knowing to Guru as friend and equal, as someone who doesn’t always know the best. Today’s teacher and the learner are partners in the process of teaching and learning. We inspire, motivate and learn from each other; if I don’t know, I can admit it to my students. The teacher is only a facilitator; one who will help the student grow, become a self-learner. The teacher is only one of many sources. Not infrequently, there is a role reversal. With children being so tech-savy, often I am the student and they are my teachers. Has teaching changes the way I think ? Yes, most certainly. My students have shown me how to manage time. I marvel at how deftly they juggle sports, academics, dance, and theatre, for instance. I have learnt how to accept failure as I see my students taking success and failure with equan...
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