“So the three mighty men . . . drew water from the well of Bethlehem . . . and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.” –2 Samuel 23:16

What has been like ‘water from the well of Bethlehem’ to you recently–love, friendship, or maybe some spiritual blessing? Have you taken whatever it may be simply to satisfy yourself? If you are always keeping blessings to yourself and never learning to pour out anything ‘to the Lord,’ other people will never have their vision of God expanded through you” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).

This one rates an “amen” and and “ouch.”

It’s easy to want to hoard God’s blessings like they will one day run out. We’re just like those Israelites in the desert who wanted to stockpile manna just in case it didn’t show up the next day only to find out day-old manna stinks in the most literal way possible.

I wonder how many future blessings we unlock when we share the present blessings with those around us who are in need. I wonder that maybe when we see ourselves as a conduit through which God’s gifts pour instead of a reservoir, we might not see more of God’s good gifts to us.

It’s interesting that we don’t have to learn to be selfish. We come out of the womb grasping and holding with clenched fists. We have to be taught how to share. We learn out to give. We become like God when we learn to give as freely as He’s given to us.

My pastor reminded us of a familiar saying that those who trust God in the giving of tithes know that God knows we can live off the 90% more than we could if we kept it all to ourselves because we understand that God blesses those who give. I believe the New Testament standard is not 10% but giving generously out of the overflow of God’s gifts to you, but the truth remains the same. God blessed generosity.

“You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting’” (Acts 20:35, The Message).