Running-Over Blessings to the Next Generation

When you have a generous spirit, you’re always giving your time, your resources, being a blessing to others. Those are seeds you’re sowing that will not only make your life more rewarding, but will impact your children and family line. There’s a generational blessing when you live generously. Some of the seeds of your giving, your faithfulness, are being stored up and will be harvested by your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Your giving is being credited to their account. Not only will you be blessed, but you will see running-over blessings to the next generation. God says when you honor Him with your giving, “I will pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10). That means you can’t contain it in your lifetime. Every time you give of your time, your talent, and your resources, you are storing up blessings for your family. They’re going to walk into favor, see doors open, the right people show up, because of your generosity. It’s a running-over blessing, a generational blessing.  

In Genesis 14, Abraham was returning home after winning a great victory and great spoils from an enemy when he met Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a high priest of the Most High God. The Scripture says, “Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he recovered.” Abraham didn’t have to do this, but he was a giver. He recognized it was God’s favor that brought him the victory, and he wanted to bless the high priest with some of the spoils. But it was more significant than that. Abraham would have a great-grandson named Levi. Hebrews 7 says, “Levi paid the tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham because, when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.” This is saying that when Abraham gave that gift, his yet-to-be-born great-grandson was credited with giving the tithe. Three generations later, Levi was born with a blessing of favor because his great-grandfather was generous. He had an advantage because someone in his family line was a giver.  

Let’s live our lives in such a way that our descendants are born with a blessing. The good news is that seeds of your generosity, the way you honor God with your obedience and faithfulness, are accruing for your children, for your family line. They will reap the harvest of some of the seeds that you’ve sown. Now keep doing the right thing. Keep being generous. Keep encouraging your discouraged friend. Keep taking care of your elderly parent. Keep giving to support God’s work. You’re not only going to see increase, but there will be running-over blessings you can’t contain.