My Cup Overflows...With Thankfulness
Posted: September 10th, 2008, 2:45 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #126a; Re-Written 10SEP08; http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
My Cup Overflows—Part One: ...With Thankfulness
by rev dave c
During this past season Psalm 16 has come to hold a special place in my heart—especially when I am feeling a bit over- (or under-) whelmed. I invite you to take a moment and read this wonderful song of David. For me, verses 5 and 6 hold particular significance as a reminder of the why concerning when, where, and how I exist: LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance (NIV). “Portion,” in verse 5, is translated from the Hebrew word “manah” (#4490); meaning, “properly, something weighed out, i.e. (generally) a division; specifically (of food) a ration; also a lot). “Cup” is “gbiya`” (#1375), which is derived “from an unused root (meaning to be convex); a goblet; by analogy, the calyx of a flower.” “Cup” is used throughout The Bible as symbolic of God’s providential plan of conditions and circumstances for individuals and for nations.
Within Psalm 23 we find a sentiment similar to Psalm 16 expressed as thankful acknowledgment of God’s gracious sovereignty (interestingly, also in verses 5 & 6): You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (NIV). My cup isn’t just full...it overflows. Jesus tells us in John 10:10b that the Son of God became the Son of Man not just that we might have life, but that we might have the same life “overflowing” as described by David a thousand years earlier. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (ASV). “Abundantly (ASV/NAS)” and “to the full (NIV)” do not really communicate the inferences of the Greek word found in John 10:10. Perissos (#4053) more accurately conveys, “superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive.” The superabundance of Christ’s love is wonderfully illustrated in both the occasions of the Lord feeding the 5,000 men (Mk 6:34-44), where there were twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish; and the feeding of the 4,000 (Mk 8:1-10), where there were seven baskets of extra food. We should note that the gathering of believers became “wealthy” with leftovers...not the individuals.
God the Father is our “Abba Daddy,” and as our Divine Parent He wants all good things that are best for us—not just as a getting by, but as “life abundant.” Does this mean that each and every Believer gets every material thing for which we lust? No, of course not. Those things don’t qualify as “best for us.” He does, however, guide us toward allowing Him to shape our desires to conform to His will and His plans. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (NIV). “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Think about that promise: If we love God with our whole person, and if we love our neighbors as ourselves, and if we love one another as He has loved us...then we will find the Kingdom of God, AND we will be provided life’s necessities. Is this a promise of health, wealth, and position for every Christian? No, it is emphatically not that kind of promise...BUT if we are faithful to seeking His face, to loving all those who are created in His image and likeness (meaning, everyone everywhere and throughout time), and if we are committed to His Church...then God, in and through His family (i.e., everyone who is called by His name—not just the local fellowship), will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Ph 4:19, NIV).
Throughout the Old Testament we find evidence of this Divine promise: Proverbs 3:9&10, Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine (NIV). Psalm 65:11&12, You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness (NIV). Joel 2:23-25, Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. `I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you (NIV). Zechariah 1:17, "Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem'" (NIV).
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus assures us that as we are generous with our time, our talents, and our resources to those in need, so shall we be dealt with generously by our Father in Heaven (Mt 7:7, 25:31-46/Mk 4:23-25/Lu 6:38). The effects of our generosity is described in Second Corinthians 9:12, This service that you perform [i.e., giving freely as individuals and as a fellowship to those in crisis] is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. And how should we respond to those who are the recipients of our obedient generosity? ...With the humility that Paul describes in Colossians 2:6&7: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Amen.
My Cup Overflows—Part One: ...With Thankfulness
by rev dave c
During this past season Psalm 16 has come to hold a special place in my heart—especially when I am feeling a bit over- (or under-) whelmed. I invite you to take a moment and read this wonderful song of David. For me, verses 5 and 6 hold particular significance as a reminder of the why concerning when, where, and how I exist: LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance (NIV). “Portion,” in verse 5, is translated from the Hebrew word “manah” (#4490); meaning, “properly, something weighed out, i.e. (generally) a division; specifically (of food) a ration; also a lot). “Cup” is “gbiya`” (#1375), which is derived “from an unused root (meaning to be convex); a goblet; by analogy, the calyx of a flower.” “Cup” is used throughout The Bible as symbolic of God’s providential plan of conditions and circumstances for individuals and for nations.
Within Psalm 23 we find a sentiment similar to Psalm 16 expressed as thankful acknowledgment of God’s gracious sovereignty (interestingly, also in verses 5 & 6): You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (NIV). My cup isn’t just full...it overflows. Jesus tells us in John 10:10b that the Son of God became the Son of Man not just that we might have life, but that we might have the same life “overflowing” as described by David a thousand years earlier. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (ASV). “Abundantly (ASV/NAS)” and “to the full (NIV)” do not really communicate the inferences of the Greek word found in John 10:10. Perissos (#4053) more accurately conveys, “superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive.” The superabundance of Christ’s love is wonderfully illustrated in both the occasions of the Lord feeding the 5,000 men (Mk 6:34-44), where there were twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish; and the feeding of the 4,000 (Mk 8:1-10), where there were seven baskets of extra food. We should note that the gathering of believers became “wealthy” with leftovers...not the individuals.
God the Father is our “Abba Daddy,” and as our Divine Parent He wants all good things that are best for us—not just as a getting by, but as “life abundant.” Does this mean that each and every Believer gets every material thing for which we lust? No, of course not. Those things don’t qualify as “best for us.” He does, however, guide us toward allowing Him to shape our desires to conform to His will and His plans. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (NIV). “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Think about that promise: If we love God with our whole person, and if we love our neighbors as ourselves, and if we love one another as He has loved us...then we will find the Kingdom of God, AND we will be provided life’s necessities. Is this a promise of health, wealth, and position for every Christian? No, it is emphatically not that kind of promise...BUT if we are faithful to seeking His face, to loving all those who are created in His image and likeness (meaning, everyone everywhere and throughout time), and if we are committed to His Church...then God, in and through His family (i.e., everyone who is called by His name—not just the local fellowship), will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Ph 4:19, NIV).
Throughout the Old Testament we find evidence of this Divine promise: Proverbs 3:9&10, Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine (NIV). Psalm 65:11&12, You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness (NIV). Joel 2:23-25, Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. `I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you (NIV). Zechariah 1:17, "Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem'" (NIV).
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus assures us that as we are generous with our time, our talents, and our resources to those in need, so shall we be dealt with generously by our Father in Heaven (Mt 7:7, 25:31-46/Mk 4:23-25/Lu 6:38). The effects of our generosity is described in Second Corinthians 9:12, This service that you perform [i.e., giving freely as individuals and as a fellowship to those in crisis] is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. And how should we respond to those who are the recipients of our obedient generosity? ...With the humility that Paul describes in Colossians 2:6&7: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Amen.