What were you thankful for this year? Family? Health? Prosperity?
We're usually pretty quick at thanking God for what we have, for what He's blessed us with. But does He really bless us with comfort, with material things, and with affluence, for our own contentment and happiness? Does God reward us for our "good stewardship" in this life? It's easy to say that He does, like many of us have been taught or have always simply taken for granted.
Consider, however, what Paul said to the Corinthian church:
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV)
As we share with others, this passage says (vs 6-9) that God will bless us so that we can share with others even more. God doesn't bless us materially for our own benefit or as a reward for our good works... He blesses us so that we might bless others even more. And we thank Him for our ability to do so by doing so!
As the Message says, "You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone" (vs 12-15).
I am thankful for all of the individuals and families who have stepped up to the plate to be salt and light in our community. I am thankful for the 250+ bags of groceries that will be going to the Barrie Food Bank. I am thankful for those who are taking initiative, who are being watchful for needs around them and are stepping up to meet those needs.
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