Whenever we bless others, we will be blessed.
Numbers 6:22-27 (NLT) “Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 24 ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. 25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the Lord show you his favour and give you his peace.’ 27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
In 2 Kings 7 we learn of four lepers who sat at the gate of Samaria. There was famine and nothing to eat. Things had gotten so bad inside the city that women were eating their own children to survive. Elisha the prophet prophesied the impossible, that the next day food would be plentiful.
Meanwhile, the four lepers evaluated their hopeless situation. If they stayed at the gate of Samaria, they would starve. If they went over to the enemy camp, they may be killed, which would be no worse than starving. But there was a chance that the enemy would help them and give them some leftover food. They took their chances and went over to the enemy camp.
When they got there, they were shocked to find the camp deserted. The Lord had caused the enemy to hear a great army of chariots and horses so that they fled in a panic, leaving all of their supplies behind. The four lepers ate all that they could eat. They take several loads of silver and gold and clothes, not telling anyone about it.
They thought that this is not good. They have plenty while the people in Samaria are starving. They said, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent”
2 Kings 7:9 (MSG) “Finally they said to one another, “We shouldn’t be doing this! This is a day of good news and we’re making it into a private party! If we wait around until morning we’ll get caught and punished. Come on! Let’s go tell the news to the king’s palace!”
They went and told the starving city where they could find abundant supplies to satisfy their needs.
Zechariah 8:13b (AMP) “so I will save you, that you may be a blessing. Fear not; let your hands be strong.”
How relevant is this not to the story in 2 Kings 7?
God blesses us to be a blessing to others. In the same measure that we bless others, we will be blessed.
An African proverb states, “There is only one crime worse than murder in the desert, and that is to know where the water is and not tell.”
Matthew 7:12 (ESV) “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them”
In this Christmas season take a decision today to be a blessing to others.