Fill Someone’s Need Today

I love my morning coffee. One of my favorite sounds is the drip filling the carafe, permeating the house with pungent aroma.

One of my friends is a barista, and she once told me that if the expresso is not emptied into the drink within minutes of being made, it goes bad. Its taste becomes stale and it must be thrown out. The expresso machine goes through a continual rhythm of being filled simply so it can be emptied into lattes, frapaccinos, and bubbly goodness.

Filled to empty. Emptied to fill.

As a follower of Jesus, my life should follow the same pattern. Yet so often God blesses me and I want to simply bask in it for a while. I hold on to the blessing with clenched fists, thinking if I let it go, it will be gone forever.

I forget that our God is one of abundance. He is not limited by time or space or power. He is infinite.

He fills us so that we can be emptied out.

So that we can bless others. So we can fulfill a need.

When we hoard gifts, the flow stops and what was once a blessing becomes spoiled and hackneyed. Instead of being thankful, we become entitled.

God, let your Spirit be a constant reminder of where my gifts come from. Help me to remember that when I open my hands to others, the flow opens like a stream fed river.

When I clench my hands, the river becomes a cesspool, good for nothing but waste.

 

This post was written for Five Minute Friday. I beautiful group of brave, bold, beautiful writers who meet each Friday to free write for five minutes on one word. Today’s word was: fill. Click the button below to learn more.