How To Quit Adding Blessings and Start Multiplying Them

When you are a “sneer-er” you gotta sneer at something. So, today I sneer at the junior high math classes where the teacher gives a math problem and everyone whips out his calculator.

They have no idea of the sum of 12 x 12. If their batteries give out they sit there with a dumb look on their face.

If I would be honest, down deep I’m probably mad because of all those multiplication tables I had to memorize. I remember the fear I experienced as I scrunched my forehead pondering during one of those innumerable tests. “Hmmm .. 9 x 13? What was that again?”

I would almost wish that I had studied instead of watching the Beverly Hillbillies on television the night before. Almost.

But there are some math tables I want to know well. This morning I was struck by the fact that God isn’t just a God of addition. He’s a God of multiplication. He wants to multiply what He put in you. He wants to multiply what you do for Him. He wants to multiply his blessing in your life.

Addition is for first and second graders. Grown-ups in the Lord are into multiplication.

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it …” (Genesis 1:28, NKJV). Multiplication was built into our DNA from the beginning.

Obedience multiplies God’s blessing in our life. Willful disobedience multiplies problems and frustrations. Eve’s disobedience was reproduced millions of times in her daughters.

“”To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.’” (Genesis 3:16NKJV)

But for those who want everything God has for them—that’s you and me isn’t it?—we can turn off the Beverly Hillbillies and go after God with all our heart. Multiplication is the result. Here’s what happened to a man who did that about 3800 years ago.

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen. 22:15-18 NKJV)

Can you stand one more?

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

‘He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.’

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness …” (2 Cor. 9:6-10 NKJV)

You know what? I’ve wiped the sneer off of my face and I’m asking the Lord for one of His calculators. I want to factor the greatness of God into what I ask for—and receive. I’m no longer satisfied with addition.

I want multiplication. And you?

Then what are you going to DO about it?

image: Quinn Dombrowski, creative commons Mike, creative commons

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhsalumni/

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