Have you ever received something and immediately realized, this isn’t all for me? Maybe it was a whole pan of dessert, or a basket of fruit, hopefully you thought, who can I share this with, and not, where can I hide it!

That’s a Kingdom principle. God puts things in us that He eventually intends to flow through us. Paul said God comforts us in our trouble so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we received from Him. God comforts you—and eventually you comfort somebody. God teaches you—and eventually you teach somebody. God provides for you—and eventually generosity flows through you. God forgives you—and eventually forgiveness flows through you.

There’s a pattern, receive, grow, give. Peter says we are to be “good stewards” of the grace God has given us. A steward understands that what has been placed in their hands has a purpose beyond simply possessing it. That means the question isn’t only, what has God given me, but also, who is it for? Maybe God brought you through something because someday you’ll sit across from someone going through it. Maybe God taught you something because someone else will need you to teach them. Maybe God has been generous to you because He wants generosity to have a way into somebody else’s life.

This is how The fruit of the Spirit is to work as well, love or kindness needs to be given to somebody who doesn’t deserve it. Fruit isn’t produced for the tree, fruit is produced for somebody else to taste. Paul said that we have a treasure on the inside, but it’s not just for you, it’s for others. You’ve got eternity on the inside but you’ve got an assignment on the outside.