Producing Thanksgiving to God

2 Cor. 9:10-11 - "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."

Imagine that there was a wealthy gentleman who decided to bless three local craftsmen. The first was a carpenter who was given rough lumber, and the necessary tools to measure, cut, plane, and sand it. He assembled the various pieces of wood using nails, screws and glue to create a beautiful and functional piece of furniture. The second artist was a painter who was provided with an assortment of paints, brushes and canvases. The painter mixed and blended the colors on the palette and applied them to the canvases to create beautiful images which moved everyone who viewed them. Finally, there was a potter who received a delivery of clay, a potter's wheel, various glazes and a kiln. The potter selected an amount of clay and after kneading it, placed it on the wheel and applied the appropriate amount of water and pressure to form it into the desired shape; then he glazed it and fired it in the kiln. When the kiln cooled off, the potter displayed a colorful and useful pitcher.

Let's consider a couple of things. Initially, each of these artisans would receive recognition for their skills, but at the end of the day who should receive thanks? According to Paul, the benefactor who continually provided the supplies should be glorified! Let's ask another question: For whose benefit were the material and skills given to the artisans? Solely for their own benefit? Paul's answer is, "No! You are to be generous with your skills and supplies, in order that others would be served and come to thank to ultimate Giver!"

Are you generously using the material blessings and skills God has placed in your care for the benefit of others? And when you do, do you gracefully redirect the gratitude you receive back to God?

"You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."

Jeremy Dehut