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"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up."
~Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
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In this series, we are exploring relationships and how we can build better relationships with others in our lives. The chapters of this series can be seen on the right menu bar and the current chapter is shown below. Enjoy this series as we strive to develop one of the best gifts God has given us: relationships with others.
Live Generously
November 16, 2009
Are you a Sea of Galilee or a Dead Sea? Strange question? Let me explain...
I heard a pastor recently who posed that question to his congregation in his sermon on generosity. He went on to explain the geography of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. He described how the Sea of Galilee is fed from a couple of water sources and that its major outlet is the Jordan River that flows southward to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea gets most of its water from the Jordan River and has no outlet. When you look at pictures of the Sea of Galilee, it is just breathtaking. The Sea is beautiful and there is lush vegetation and looks very resort-like. This is in stark contrast to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is not beautiful and does not have the plush beauty of the Sea of Galilee.
So, what does this have to do with Generosity? This pastor described how the Sea of Galilee has input from several sources and then sends the water out to the Jordan River. There is a constant flow of input and output. In contrast, the Dead Sea has no outlet and receives from the Jordan River, without giving. Thus, it becomes very stagnant.
I think it is a beautiful symbol of how we must give to others and how it is truly better for us to give than to just receive with no outlet. I have been very taken by this analogy since I heard it and want so badly to live generously. I know that I feel very blessed in my life and have received so many things (financial blessings, emotional blessings, the blessing of my daughter Isabella's miracle) and I think that if I were to just keep it all for myself, I would not be doing what God intended. He intended for us to receive blessings and then to give them to others to be blessed. And, I strive everyday to live generously and pour out the blessings that I have received to others. Imagine how great a world we could live in, if we all felt compelled to pour out to others what we have received and not just hoard it all to ourselves. I want to be a Sea of Galilee, not a Dead Sea.
So, I charge you today to be a Sea of Galilee. Be a constant flow of giving to others what has been given to you. Live generously!
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