Detailed is a concept that has come about from many lessons and revelations the Lord has given me in my life – not just my Christian walk, but before then too. It’s called “The Blessing Hands” and it comes about from God really calling us to give, but knowing beforehand that He calls us to be good stewards of what we are given. His emphasis is on the double blessing. He wants you to be just as blessed in the giving as someone else is in the getting.
I believe with all my heart that if the Lord knows you to be someone who will not give, then He wastes no time in giving to you first. Ever heard the phrase: “You are blessed to be a blessing”? Well, your Father in Heaven knows before He blesses you whether you will turnaround and be that small miracle for someone else. And if your heart is not determined to give all that you’ve been given – whether that’s finances, knowledge/wisdom, something of monetary value, your time, relationships/people in your life – then the Lord, obviously still choosing to be a gracious Lord, would rather give to someone else. Someone who has a love for Him that’s evident and before they even receive, has their sights set on giving.
So, if I were standing before you with my hands outstretched, palms up, hands side by side, I would explain this concept to you like this:
These are my two hands sitting side by side. We all have them; we all use them but consider this conviction for a second – A left hand and a right hand. Your left hand. A hand that is meant to receive what’s been left for you from a very loving, patient, extravagant, GRACIOUS Father. Things He believes you to deserve and you receive those gifts in your unworthiness knowing Jesus already paid the price calling you “worthy by all measures.” Then you have a right hand. A hand that enables you to steward what you’ve been given well, the right way, by His standards and at the same time your actions stemming from how much you love God. It’s evident and real to you and how you scatter your blessings proves the status of what’s in your heart. The fruits of your giving, spending, blessing are shown to be healthy or rotten because of the ways you extend your hands in favor towards others.
Two hands nestled side by side, envision me holding them out before you. And picture this. God brings a constant flow from heaven down to earth and onto your hands. His power and love in the form of blessings then stretches across your left hand, then on to your right hand and exits those two palms and into the lives of others. It’s a fluid path, a well worn transition to you and from you. From heaven. To our hands. Off to affect the world of someone else. Down comes the blessing, in comes the blessing, and just as fast as it’s made its way to us that gift in whatever shape the Lord wills is off to be that small miraculous gesture or extravagant wonder for a person who is not you. Fathom that. God gives to us so that we are able to enhance the life of someone who is essentially not us. God knows that our lives are changed and we experience growth when we give ourselves for the sake of someone else. His giving always comes with the condition that it’s greater to give then to receive.
Matthew 6: 3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do no let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The final part of this idea is easy yet we grumble at it.
Because God gives with the expectation of us to give freely, give often, and give fervently I truly believe He refuses to give to us any at all if He knows the posture of our hearts. Tendency to be greedy? Accredit the provision to be from you and you alone? Quick to determine who is a reputable cause and who is not? Then simple: He won’t give to you. The blessing will STOP before it even reaches your hands. If you won’t give as fast or as often as you receive, GOD WILL NOT BLESS YOU. That fresh perspective you’re wanting? You’ll remain in limbo asking for more from God. That larger paycheck or more funding for your mission? He will continue to ask you to pray. A season of peace and steadiness instead of busyness and stress? If you won’t use that time well, guaranteed the craziness will continue in full force. The list goes on and on. IF you do not give with the same audacity and flare that Christ does/did He forsakes the gift in itself meant for you. And believe me, God wants so very deeply to give to us again and again but why would someone give you a present they know you will never take advantage of or use? They wouldn’t, that would be silly. God, all-knowing, doesn’t have to ask you whether you will give in a way that demonstrates His love, reflects your relationship with Him, He knows and chooses to spare everyone the battle and does not give.
He gave everything for us in the form of His Son hanging on a cross. He expects grandiose giving and it should be our pleasure to do so. Where would we be if Jesus decided He wasn’t going to give what the Father had given Him?
