CALLED TO BE A BLESSING

Have you been wondering what your calling in life is? Are you frustrated and exhausted trying figure out your purpose and mission in life? Well, let me tell you to just relax. Though I believe having a vision for our future is very important, I also believe that worrying about our future can be destructive. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 (NIV), "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself." I believe that Jesus did not only come down here in earth to die for our salvation, he also came to show us how to live an abundant life. Jesus said in John 10:10, " I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." You see, God wants for us to live an abundant life and not a bogged down from worry kind of life. So stop worrying about your future and start living today.

If you really want to know your calling in life, here it is: GOD CALLED YOU TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. Yes, that's right, to be a blessing. How do we bless others? By showing the love of God through our GIVING. The bible teaches us principles of giving. For example, in Luke 6:38, it says, "Give and it shall be given unto you." If you have not noticed, many people in this world are in need of food, clothing, and shelter. They desperately need our help. But of course, the need is not only confined in material things. If you will just focus for a moment on the people around you, you will discover that some are in need of comfort and encouragement because they are hurting. Do you know that you can be a blessing to these people by giving them comfort through the word of God? By simply taking time to listen to their difficulties and motivating them in God's word, you become a blessig. So let's take time to bless people. LET US GIVE.

The fact is, you don't have to go across the world and minister as an evangelist to be a blessing to people? Just look around you, look at the people that are most closest to you: your family, loved ones, neighbors, and friends. They may be the ones who desperately need your help. Reach out to them and be a blessing. Spend some time with them and find out their needs. I really believe that this is the first arena where we ought to be proving our faithfulness to God. It may seem insignificant because it is not a so called "major mission" like that of Billy Graham's ministries. But as Luke 16:10 says, " He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." So be faithful on your calling today. That is, TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. Be a blessing to those people whom God led to your life. Who knows, God may proved you faithful and calls you to do a major mission for Him in the future. But you have to prove yourself to him right NOW- TODAY.

Let me warn you though, that being a blessing to others is not that all easy. Never ever expect that all people will appreciate you. Because the fact is, you will sometimes feel mistreated. Other people will take advantage of you, abuse you, criticize you, and others will reject you. There are two verses that I would like for you to remember, if in case you encounter such situation:
1) Matthew 10:16 -- be wise as serpent and gentle as a dove.2) I Corinthians 13:8 -- love never fails.
Never, ever, be discouraged, for our Lord God's commandment remains the same: LOVE THEM. Be aware that as God wants for us to LOVE, GIVE, and BLESS, the devil is also out there to counter this with hate, pride, and greed. Therefore, let us remain sensitive to the Spirit of God so that we'll be able to walk consistently to our calling and avoid Satan's trap. I have realized years ago that whenever I focused on other people's need, the more my life become fulfilled. I also learned that the more a person becomes self-focused or self-centered, the more he or she becomes miserable and unfulfilled in life. This is also true in all relationships. If each person in every relationship will only be more sensitive to the other person's need, the more healthy and lasting the relationship will be. So let's try not to focus on ourselves too much. Let's not be self-centered but others-centered. Let us learn to reach out to others and accomplish God's calling in our life. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 , "verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." It means that whenever we bless people who are in need, we have done it to God. So let us show how much we love God by giving our best to other people. Let's walk on our calling today. LET'S BE A BLESSING!

DECLARE:
"I will not worry about my future for I know exactly my purpose and calling in life today. God wants me to be a blessing to others. Therefore in obedience to Him, I will learn to give, especially to those who are in need, knowing that when I give, it is as if I'm doing it to my Lord God. I love my Lord, therefore, I will give."

(Originally published on VIF, a Nathan Negosa's personal goodnewsletter, 1996)