We begin a new sermon series this weekend, “A Double Blessing.”  If you would like to study along with us during this series, you might pick up the book Double Blessing by Mark Batterson.  It is an outstanding book that explains what it means to be blessed, but moreover how your blessings are meant to bless others.

As we begin the series, we will be looking at the concept of “A Double Portion,” and what this means.  We will be talking about blessings on top of blessings.  Yet, even while writing this, I have to acknowledge that this last year has been hard, so very very hard.  I acutely feel it too, and know God never promised sunshine without rain.  Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”  But He also says, “But take heart!  I have overcome the world!”  The blessing is still there, no matter what.

So what do we DO WITH OUR BLESSING?  Batterson says in his book, “God doesn’t bless us to raise our standard of living.  God blesses us to raise our standard of giving.  In the words of Winston Churchill, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’”  

Our talents are handed off to others, who eventually do more than we ever could.
Our compassion is handed off to others, who eventually do more than we ever could.
Our skill at listening is handed off to others, who eventually do more than we ever could.

This list could go on and on, we hand off to others, who eventually do more than we ever could. 

I think you get the idea.  What we hand off to others becomes our legacy, and not only does that bring God into the world, it MULTIPLIES GOD IN THE WORLD.

It is both a blessing and a responsibility.