Daily Thought for Monday, October 10th

October 10, 2011

The Spiritual Principle of

Expanded vs. Diminishing Returns

Today’s Thought:

“ Men must reap the things they sow.”  – Percy B. Shelley

Today’s Quote:

“You only keep what you give away.”  – R. E. Phillips

Today’s Question:

Has it ever occurred to you that with God; “To give is to receive, but only if one does not give in order to receive?” – Wade Hudson

Today’s Bible Verses:            Galatians 6:5-9 & Psalms 126:5-6

For every man shall bear his own burden.  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“We receive but what we give."  –  Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Have you ever heard the old clichéd proverb, “What goes around, comes around?”

This rather nicely sums up God’s perspective on the returns we can expect to receive from the efforts, energies, attitudes, gifts and services we put forth.

If we are bossy, arrogant, selfish and deceitful – we can expect to receive those same attributes to be showered on us.

If we are gentle, meek, humble, kind, caring, willing to share and generous – we can anticipate that by in large we will be treated in like kind.

Remember the story of the ‘Widows mite’ from the Bible.  She gave all she had; she did it secretly and with humility.  Her return was far greater than those who made a show of giving much greater gifts.

We need to realize we will get back from God what we give to God.  Whether it’s time, treasure, talent, service and so on.

The proportions with which we invest our resource, our energies and our efforts will directly affect the extent of our return.  While it is impossible to out give God (simply meaning – He will bless you more greatly than you can anticipate) it is possible to give for the wrong reason, with the wrong motive and for the wrong purpose (thus potentially diminishing your potential return).

God loves a cheerful giver: one who gives freely of all that he or she is and has because they want too not so much because they feel they have too.

Now I believe that whatever you give God will not go without notice – but just remember you will get back the attitude that goes with the giving as well.

If we want blessings, we must give blessings.  If we want peace we must give peace.  If we want love we must give love.

God’s principle on returns is simply this: He always gives us more than we deserve in grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and so on; but He will also give us with proportional equivalence hatred, anger, bitterness slothfulness, and the like if that is what we choose to sow in the soil of our spiritual gardens.

We know scripture tell us this:  “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - The Bible (Acts 20:35)

The bottom line is this when it comes to spiritual returns: you will get equal to or greater than what you sow or put into your spiritual life.

The question is this are you reaping anywhere close to what God would like to be giving you?

Something to think about, isn’t it?

Today’s Prayer:

Father, make me make wise spiritual investment by being a blessing to others and help me to leave the degree and extent of the returns up to you.