Give What We Receive

Give What We Receive

During a recent sermon, my preacher mentioned the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea as an illustration of how people sometimes go to church and receive, but never give what they receive to others.

He explained that unlike the Sea of Galilee, which takes in fresh water from the Jordan River and lets it flow from it, the Dead Sea takes water from the Jordan and holds onto it.

As a result, the Sea of Galilee is vibrant and living, while the Dead Sea is dead. Similarly, if all we do is go to church and receive without allowing what we receive to flow from us, we could end up like that Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee Gives

From the New Testament, we may remember much of Jesus’s ministry occurred in the area of the Sea of Galilee. It was here he called the fishermen Simon, later called Peter, and his brother, Andrew, along with brothers James and John to follow him and become fishers of men (Mark 1:14-20, Matthew 4:18-22, and Luke 5:1-11).

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7) overlooked the Sea of Galilee, and it was on this sea that Jesus walked on water during a raging storm toward his frightened disciples.

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. Mark 6:48-49 NLT

In contrast to the Dead Sea, this sea was abundant with fish. In fact, after Christ’s resurrection, he  prepared a meal of fish on the shore for his disciples after their long night of unsuccessful fishing.

The Dead Sea

Mentions of the Dead Sea in the Old Testament mention battles and tar pits. Yet, one of my favorite mentions of the Dead Sea happens when the priests stepped into liquid. 

As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water at the Jordan River’s edge, the water began backing up. The water below that point flowed into the Dead Sea. The Jordan River bed became dry, and the people crossed over to the Promised Land.

The Stinky Sponge Receives but Doesn’t Give

As I listened to Preacher’s message, I thought about something a friend said years ago about being a Stinky Sponge.

If all we do is soak up biblical knowledge, like a sponge soaks up water, but don’t ever apply or share it, we’re like a Stinky Sponge.

You can read the blog post I wrote about it here, but we must empty a sponge of its water so it can be fresh to use again.

The Key to Life and Living

Preacher ended his message with a poem by Helen Steiner Rice, “The Key to Life and Living”, in which she mentions the clean, clear, cool waters of the Sea of Galilee, in contrast to the sea to its south that was void of any sea life.

The poet tells how both seas receive their water from the Jordan River, but unlike the Sea of Galilee which the Jordan flows into and out of, the Dead Sea hoards its water, where it turns the water to salt, and dies.

At the end of her poem, Helen Steiner Rice said that we find the way to living not in keeping, but in giving.

Give or Receive?

Preacher asked the following questions.

Do we receive and give, or receive and keep?

Which sea are we like? The Sea of Galilee or the Dead Sea?

Stinky Sponge or Dead Sea. Neither is what Jesus calls us to be.

Your Turn

As Christian’s, we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors. His light to a world in darkness. We are to be Christ’s hands and feet. To reflect him to others.

We can’t very well do any of that, if we don’t give what we receive, now can we?

If you are interested in reading similar posts I wrote here at Inspire a Fire on the subject, you might like Priming the Pump of Love, or Qualities of a Good Leader

I wish you well.

Sandy

Photos courtesy Pixabay.