Losing To Gain

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Sowing Generously

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10Now 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. 11You 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.

Bee's Thoughts:

Jesus teaches us to measure our lives by losses rather than gains, by sacrifices rather than self-preservation, by time spent for others rather than time lavished upon ourselves, by love poured out rather than love poured in.

It's a rule of life: God blesses those who give of their lives and resources (2 Cor. 9:6). Give out the truth you know, and He'll give you more to give away. Give your time, and you'll have more time to give. Set no limit on your love, and you'll have more love for others than before.

- Today's Daily Bread

Many times when we give a lot but don't get in return, we will feel being short-changed. We feel that life is very unfair to us. We question why we are always the givers and others the takers.I have been struggling with this seemingly unfairness of life since young.

Even as an adult it seems I give so much more than I get from others. Sometimes I tell myself to stop giving, yet I can't stop. Perhaps because I didn't have many things in life as a child, and everything I have now as an adult I worked very hard for them (with God's help), and I have the urge to give to others. I don't want them to suffer like I did.

I also have the tendency to give advices out of a good intention, sometimes to the annoyance of certain recipients. To me, I care and that's why I give. But to the recipients I am telling them what to do or trying to run their life. It hurts me to know that my kindness is not appreciated and instead being misunderstood, especially from someone dear. :'(

However, I still must give. Perhaps I need to learn to be wise as to who I should give and who I shouldn't. Even Jesus advised His disciples in Matthew 7:6:

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do,
they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you topieces."I
need God's wisdom to know who will regards my giving as unkindness and will
treat it otherwise.


THE SERENITY PRAYER
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;

trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever
in the next.

Amen