Topic: God Blesses What You Bring Him [RICK WARREN Devotional 21 October 2021]

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God Blesses What You Bring Him

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 21, 2021
FROM CONNECTING WITH GOD: THE LORD’S PRAYER

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

Ecclesiastes 11:1 (RSV)Whatever you give to God, he multiplies.

If you give God your talent, he’ll multiply your talent. If you give God your energy, he’ll multiply your energy. If you give God your money, he will multiply your money. Whatever you give to God, he will multiply and give it back.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (RSV).

To teach this truth, Jesus did a miracle. Five thousand people followed Jesus out into the middle of the desert. He taught them all day, and at the end of the day, they were hungry. The disciples told Jesus to send everyone away. Instead, Jesus told the disciples they needed to feed the people. I’m sure the disciples wondered, “What is he doing?” He was testing their faith. He wanted to see if they would depend on him to provide what they needed to feed 5,000 people.

Out of that huge crowd, one little boy had brought lunch, and inside were five little loaves of bread and two dried fish. The boy brought his lunch to Jesus and said, “Lord, you can have this.”

Jesus took the bread and loaves. He prayed, broke it, blessed it, and multiplied it. It fed all 5,000 people—who were also the 5,000 witnesses to this miracle. Not only that, but there were 12 baskets full of leftover fish and loaves!

God always gives you more than you need, more than you anticipate, and more than you can imagine. He took what the boy gave him. He broke it, he blessed it, and he used it.

That’s what God does in your life. He takes what you bring to him—even the broken parts—and uses it for good.

Offer Jesus what you have today. He’ll bless you and use you to bless others.

• What are you willing to give to God today?
• Why is it important to submit all you have—even the broken parts of your life—to God?
• What kind of attitude do you think God wants you to have when you give?