GEOGRAPHY 101
Proverbs 11: 24-25
One
man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to
poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be
refreshed.
In the land of Jesus, Israel, there are two lakes, The
Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. They are connected by the Jordan River which
flows south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee
receives water from the Plain of
Gennesaret and from Lake Huleh as well as the hills of Bashan and Naphtali. The
Sea of Galilee is small but teaming with life. It is the lake in which the
disciples fished for a living and on which Jesus walked. The Sea of Galilee has
such a plentiful supply that water spills out into the Jordan River which flows
many miles south into the Dead Sea.
In contrast, the Dead Sea only receives water. Its
elevation is hundreds of feet below that of the Sea of Galilee and located in
an arid, desert-like environment. It
receives water from the wilderness areas of Moab, Kedemoth, and Judah. The
Kidron and Jordan Rivers both empty into the Dead Sea. As you can see, it
receives much water but nothing lives in it. No plants or fish life can be found
there.
One sea receives and gives; bringing vibrancy and life
to its waters. The other sea only receives; creating in itself lifelessness and
death. The application is clear; if you live a life of receiving only, you will
find yourself with a dead heart and a shriveled life. If you only receive and
do not give, then you will be like the Dead Sea.
The Bible teaches that if you are constantly sharing
yourself and your life with others, giving richly, then you will receive much
of life in return. The fullness of the Christian life is found in giving of
ourselves that God might be glorified in us as we liberally share his goodness
and grace.