When you’re giving out, you’ll find that God is giving to you

"Whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31). Don't neglect that gift that is in you. Don't neglect that work that God began in your life. Timothy was evidently neglecting it. Scripture said, "Stir up the gift of God, which is in you" (II Timothy 1:6). Stir it up! Sometimes you grow a little cold or stale. Start stirring up those things again - those expressions of love and praise unto the Lord.

Through magazines, newspapers, television, and other media, it has become possible to know a little bit about everything. To become somewhat versed in everything. You know a little bit about nuclear science, medicine, politics, - a little bit about everything. But in reality, no one knows much about anything. All have become very broad but not very deep. Depth is something that is developed through meditation, and meditation is almost a lost art.

Spend a moment in meditation of God. With the accompaniment of the most beautiful music in the world, begin to think of the greatness, the love, and the goodness of God to you. As you begin to think about your life, God's Spirit will begin to talk to you concerning your life, good things and those areas where you’re failing and falling short. As the Spirit brings them up say: "Lord, strengthen me and help me in that area to be an example for Thee."

As you meditate on God's Word, God's truth, the greatness of God, and the work of God's Spirit within your life, God begins to work within you. He will enable you to be an example of the believer that He would have you to be. You're to be an example to those in your life - wholly giving yourself over to purity, faith, righteous conduct, clean speech, and the love of God working in you.

Paul describes the results of being an example of other believers: in saving others you will also be saving yourself. This is the truth of God. Mark it carefully. You cannot minister to other people without God ministering to you also. You cannot give without God giving to you. "With what measure ye give, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2). You cannot help others without God helping you. You cannot seek the blessing of others without God blessing you. So many times while your praying for God to heal someone else, God will heal you; or to strengthen someone else, God will strengthened you; or to comfort someone else, God will comforted you. When you’re giving out, you’ll find that God is giving to you. That is a glorious fact of God!

If you sow sparingly, you'll reap sparingly. If you sow bountifully, you'll reap bountifully. You reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). That is God's law of nature. You want a huge harvest? Plant a huge crop of seeds. You want a few ears of corn? Drop a few grains of corn into the dirt. It's a law of life. You're so interested in God ministering to you that you get self-oriented. "What's God going to do for you? If you minister to others, you won't have time to take care of your own needs." HE DOES