Enriched

Happy Sunday!

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 says, "Remember this: The one who plants FEW seeds will have a small harvest. But the one who plants a lot will have a big harvest.  Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should NOT give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give.  And God can give you MORE blessings than you need, and you will always have PLENTY of EVERYTHING.  You will have enough to GIVE to every good work.  As the Scriptures say, “He gives generously to the poor; his goodness will continue forever.”  God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food.  And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness. God will make you RICH in EVERY WAY so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will make people give thanks to God."(Easy-to-Read Version).  

This is one of my favorite Bible passages!  I've read it many, many times and today I saw something that I missed before.  In the King James Version, verse 11 says, "Being ENRICHED in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God."(KJV).   Immediately, I thought of bread, white bread.  I know you are probably thinking how and why this made me think of white bread?  I'm working to eat healthier options.  White bread is not considered healthy.  Why?  Great question!  White bread as we know it in the American Diet has been stripped of all of the natural nutrients during the bleaching process, then vitamins and nutrients are added to enrich it or make it better.  This verse says giving of our time and resources causes us to be enriched in everything!  Anything that is removed from our lives never really leaves our lives.  Proverbs 19:17 says, "When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!"(Living Bible).  

Psalm 41:1-3 says, "God blesses those who are kind to the poor.  He HELPS them out of their troubles.  He PROTECTS them and KEEPS them alive; he publicly HONORS them and destroys the power of their enemies.  He NURSES them when they are sick and SOOTHES their pains and worries."(Living Bible).  These are awesome benefits for being kind to the poor!  Dr. Bill Winston mentioned the American Billionaire, John D. Rockefeller today.  You know I enjoy reading and research, so I read more about the man.  Not only is it mentioned in several sources that he was a tither,  a philanthropist, and a faithful Baptist, but Historical records also tell of his habit of passing out dimes.  I personally find dimes on the ground all the time.  Abandoned because their value is so small in our generation, but back in 1800's and early 1900's a dime could buy much more!  One quote from John D. Rockefeller falls right in line with these scriptures, "Giving should be entered into in just the same way as investing. Giving is investing".  Sounds just like what God says in his Word!

God wants to "enrich" you in every area of your life.  Will you "Give" him a chance?

Love and prayers, Cynthia