“We are blessed in order to bless. What God does for us is never just for us; it’s always for others. God doesn’t bless us to raise our standard of living; He blesses us to raise our standard of giving. . . . I love receiving, but it’s not nearly as fun as giving.”- Mark Batterson
“No one has ever become poor from giving.”- Anne Frank, “Give”
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”- Luke 6:38 (NIV)
In Chapter 14 (“Flip the Blessing”) of Please Sorry Thanks, Mark Batterson stresses that generosity begets generosity. For example, a Cornell University study found that restaurant patrons given a piece of candy with their check tipped better than those not given candy.
Therefore, Mark notes, we not only prime with our words. We also prime with our actions. And, the author adds, that’s called the law of reciprocity. Thus, someone feels compelled to return the favor in kind when they receive something. Because God hardwired this into the human soul.
Hence, Pastor Batterson explains:
‘”If you lead a life of gratitude, what goes around comes around. Your generosity will eventually catch up with you. It’s the law of measures. . . . You can’t break the law of measures; it will make or break you. You get out of it what you put into it. And by it, I mean anything. . . . It’s true: You have not because you ask not. But if all you ever do is ask, your please rings hollow. The most effective way to ask is to give.”
In conclusion, Mark counsels, make sure to check your motives. Add value — with no strings attached. Above all, once you say thanks, let the chips fall where they may. The more authentic your thanks, the more effective your thanks will be.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you raise your standard of giving rather than your standard of living? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Money issues = heart issues”
