Filled or Flowing?

A lot of people talk about serving and giving to others “out of the overflow”,  speaking of the overflow of God’s presence and love.

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now.

I’m not sure we really serve or love from an overflow.

That idea conveys that we hang on to something, that we get “filled up” and that we can’t give if we’re not filled.

Maybe it’s only a matter of semantics, but I’m gaining a different perspective.

What if we think of ourselves as a conduit?  A pipe.  Open-ended.  A conduit allows things to flow through from the a source.  It never fills up…..it can’t overflow.

And, what if we see ourselves as connected to The Source....an open-ended pipe with an everlasting supply of  Living Water flowing from our hearts and lives to those around us?

 Then we'll never be  filled up.  If we are, we’re hanging on to something that doesn’t even belong to us.

Love always gives, always serves.  It isn’t selfish enough to stay inside, because….well, then, it isn’t truly love.


John 7:37-38-- Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” NLT

What do you think? Does that idea give you a different perspective?   Filled or flowing?