Blessed for Doing Good

In the movie Papillon Steve McQueen plays a character who was falsely accused of a crime and sent to prison in French Guiana. Although punished for trying to escape, he never gave up and finally discovered a way to freedom. When Joseph was falsely accused and sent to prison, he made every effort to use his talents constructively.

Joseph was a conscientious worker who viewed each task as worthy of his best effort. His work ethic was noticed by prison officials, who delegated more responsibility and privileges to him. God richly blessed Joseph as he demonstrated he could be trusted with responsibility. God's design for Joseph was to be successful.

Joseph was successful because he applied himself completely to whatever he was asked to do. Joseph implemented a basic principle for success by choosing to take advantage of every opportunity to excel. He used his talents and intelligence for the good of others, including the prison officials. God rewarded Joseph for making good choices.  

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The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

~Proverbs 11:25 The Message

Make Me a Blessing to God and Others

Living life so you can be a blessing to others is a treasure of great value. Listen to the prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:9 as he asks God for such a blessing. "Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me to keep me from evil, so that I might not cause pain to others."

 

Jacob had been a source of pain to his family of origin. Following his forced exodus from his home, he had spent twenty years working for his father-in-law. Perhaps he had matured by facing the responsibilities of work, two wives, two surrogate wives, eleven sons and one daughter.

Jacob would prove to be a blessing to his father-in-law, yet the time came when he was ready to face his past so he could move forward with his life.  Perhaps God communicated to him, "I have plans for you, so get your mind focused on what lies ahead." Jacob's future included being a blessing to God. Is God nudging you onward so you can be a blessing to Him and others?

Not Succeeding When Competing

The purpose of jealousy is to hold on desperately to what might be lost. Jealousy fears being overshadowed by a competitor and seen as insignificant. Even the slightest hint of jealousy indicates that negative perceptions of oneself have begun to set off a reactive chain of behaviors that will prove unproductive.   

  

          A young woman told how her sister and brother-in-law bought the most expensive home in her neighborhood. While one part of her brain was sincerely glad such good fortune had come to her sister, another part was envious, jealous and angry. These feelings of jealousy resurrected a competitiveness that had originated in childhood.  

          It's critical that you find godly ways to express wholesome and sincere generosity toward the one of whom you feel jealous. You can be generous by expressing love and affection as well as acts of goodness which demonstrate nobleness of character. As you allow the Holy Spirit to work and use these gifts in you, jealousy will eventually diminish.

Securing Contentment Through Generosity - Part 2

A young man in his mid-thirties left an extremely lucrative and successful business to take a position in another company that appeared more challenging. He had made enough money to give him a cushion for several months. Two years after leaving his former employment, he's back in town looking for something else. He is still looking for contentment.

By mid-life, most everyone begins to realize some dreams are not going to become reality. It may be that some people are so inflexible that dreams wither and die from lack of hope or like plants with little or no roots. In Jesus' parable of the four soils a farmer sowed his seeds in his field. Some seeds fell among thorns, which choked the tender young plants.

We must continually evaluate what we want to achieve with the gifts and talents God has entrusted to us. Failure to share them will suffocate you like thorns that choke plants. Listen to Proverbs 11:25. "A generous man prospers; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." As you share with others, you discover God's purpose for your life.