Normally, we think of spillage in negative terms. When we spill something, we have to clean up afterwards! Spillage is usually messy. I have young grandchildren who manage to spill something every time they eat or drink, knocking glasses of drink over as they gesture excitedly with their hands, heedless of anything in proximity to them, spilling food on the mysteriously long journey between the plate and their mouths. Each meal time is a time of spillage and I grumble under my breath as I wipe the plastic tablecloth and mats after each meal.
In grander terms, oil spillage from tankers can be another problem that can affect the environment for years; it’s not so easy to deal with that kind of spillage. Contamination can easily come and clear-ups on this scale are major operations.
But the spillage that comes to mind today is a very positive one, more of an overflow than an obstacle. Jesus said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured (or spill) into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ (Luke 6:38)
God’s blessing is meant to overflow. It’s meant to spill over into other people’s lives. God blesses us to bless others.We’re not meant to hoard blessing; it’s meant to spill over. (Gen 12:3, Psalm 67) Just as I can easily spill a drink into a saucer if I overfill the cup, so God’s blessings are liberal. He is not stingy, but is a generous God. And because of that, we are told to be generous too (see 2 Cor 8-9). God loves a cheerful, generous giver, because then we mirror His heart and reflect His nature.
This kind of spillage may be messy, but it doesn’t need cleaning up afterwards! God’s blessings overflow and needs are met.