Too Good to be True?

            When Doug Eaton turned 65, he wanted to do something special to celebrate, so he decided to stand on a street corner and give money to strangers.  Turns out, handing out free cash is harder than it sounds.

           Doug made a sign that said, “I have a home… and a car… and a job.  Do you need a few bucks for some coffee?”   He then spent 65 minutes in downtown Oklahoma City giving away $5 bills, or, at least, he spent 65 minutes trying. 

            Many people would not take the money! They thought that it had to be a trick, because it sounded too good to be true.   In fact, Doug had to plead with several people saying, “It’s ok.  It’s just a blessing” before they would accept his gift. 

            I wonder if that is how God sees us at times.  Many times, in his word, God says, “I am just waiting to bless you”, but instead of listening and accepting that, we refuse, because we do not think that His offer is real, or that we somehow have “earn” our blessings (as if that were even possible).

            In Malachi 3, God is encouraging his people to be generous and to share their blessings.  The assurance that he gives them is that if they look after others, he will look after them.  “Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (verse 10).  I love that imagery!  Can you imagine what your life would look like if the “floodgates of heaven” were opened and God’s blessings were poured out so that they overflowed so much that you did not have room for them all?  What would that look like?   

            Now, I should clarify that I don’t think that these promises are only materialistic.  The “Health and Wealth” gospel that says, “Follow God and he will put a Ferrari in your garage” has all sorts of flaws.  However, I do believe that God wants to bless us in ways that we may not even know that we need.  He wants us to have his “abundant life” (John 10:10), both now and in eternity.  If we are led by God, making his attitudes and priorities ours, then I have no doubt that God will provide all that we need and more.

            Many times in the Bible, people struggled for years simply because they would not believe the gracious offer of God and put themselves in a position to receive it.

            God blesses us constantly, but he is ready and willing to do more.

            Do not miss out on God’s blessing simply because it sounds too good to be true.

            “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).