A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

(Prov 11.25)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.”

(Lk 6.37-38)

What is the most personal and unique in each one of us is probably the very element which would, if it were shared or expressed, speak most deeply to others..

(Henri Nouwen, the Wounded Healer,1972)

And so, a new year is upon us and the calendar reminds us that our days are indeed numbered – but how thankful I am that only my Lord knows how many yet remain to me! What shall I do with what I have this year? What is my attitude to my resources, gifts, opportunities, weakness and suffering?

The bible teaches us that God has given gifts to his church in order that we might meet one another’s needs and also minister and witness to those who do not yet believe – in other words, I am God’s channel of blessing to others, and this is true even if I consider myself to have little to offer. It is the attitude of the heart which makes me fruitful as God’s agent of love, and I don’t need to worry about what I offer, since my God is the water-into-wine; bread-and-fish-multiplying miracle worker!

It is because of God’s abundant love for me that I can choose to love others abundantly – I need not fear, but trust that my need for assurance, acceptance and security are all more than met in Jesus Christ. Love may be made manifest in the gift of time and quiet presence; or in active service of others, giving our time and strength to make things happen. Love may be manifest in affording others the privilege of serving me – for my need is their opportunity to experience the blessing of abundant giving! This can be hard for our pride, but is surely a foundation and necessity for the building of true community – if pride keeps me from letting others know my needs and weakness, then I am not part of the body.

God asks me to bring all that I am and that He has given me – and this includes my weakness, my wounds, my burdens. When I trust God enough to believe that His grace works ALL things together for the good of his children, then I can offer up the darkness, the weariness, the pain, and worship him by saying, ‘Lord, this is all I have today, use it, be glorified in me through it, and bless others through it too!’ I can testify to the reality that such sacrifices do bring blessing – over the years I have shared in this blog about things which are sore and hard; and time and again I have received the consolation of others, and also the priceless blessing of hearing that my struggles have encouraged them in their own difficult situations.

As believers, we are in our Father’s business of being a blessing – through us, he sends love-in-action into a world in need, and into a growing kingdom of hearts submitted to him as Lord. This is not intended as a burden, but a joy-birthing purpose which will encompass all of our lives, in every season and situation. The prayer with which we can start each day is, ‘Lord, show me as I go about my duties, where you are calling me to love; and show me what love looks like in that situation.’ I can face my ageing with this confidence – I can always, always know that the Lord can bless others through me!

Heavenly Father, I rejoice at the beginning of this new year to know that you are unchanging, and your love is faithful and true. I rest today in the abundance of your goodness towards me, in Jesus Christ, and in the freedom which your grace has given me to be your means of blessing to others.

Let me walk with you into the new year, with all its opportunities, and with all the trials and joys which only you know will come to me. As I go with you, I can walk steadily, looking always for opportunities to bless and to share your goodness to me. Deliver me from false pride which disdains the service of others to my needs, and keep me humbly rejoicing in the priceless privilege of serving my Saviour with all that I am. For his glorious name’s sake I pray, Amen.