Blessed to be a Blessing

Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1 

“…you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none…If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs…then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land...”

Deuteronomy 15:6-8, 10, 11

Debt is bondage: Generosity is freedom. This was the simple principle God taught his people as they prepared to leave their journey as refugees and enter the Promised Land. The foundation of this principle is the nature of God himself. God gave Israel their land and sovereignly removed the nations who formerly dwelled there, judging their wickedness. Israel’s wealth came from God through the Egyptians and the Canaanites.

Do we recognize that our wealth and capacity to earn an education, work, and save also come from God?

Are we as generous toward others as God has been generous with us?

The Gospel illustrates both our sin-debt toward God, and his grace-filled forgiveness of our sin-debt in Christ. This pattern must guide how we live.

“Lord Jesus, your forgiveness of my sin-debt has changed my life. Blessed to be a blessing is my story, for your glory.”