I’m often reminded of a hymn about the Dead Sea which congregations used to sing regularly, but because of 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 they have been more careful about singing it in mixed groups.  Even though women’t groups could still use it when they are gathered, they rarely do for some reason.

If you have studied about the Dead Sea, you know it is 1,401 feet below sea level—the lowest land elevation on earth. It receives water from the Sea of Galilee by way of the Jordan River, but because nothing around it is lower, it never passes on the water it receives.  This hymn reveals such an obvous truth—a truth many today do not like.

There is a sea which day by day receives the rippling rills,
And streams that spring from wells of God or fall from cedared hills;
But what it thus receives it gives with glad unsparing hand;
A stream more wide, with deeper tide flows on to lower land.

There is a sea which day by day receives a fuller tide;
But all its store it keeps, nor gives to shore nor sea beside;
It’s Jordan stream, now turned to brine lies heavy as molten lead;
Its dreadful name e’er proclaim that sea is waste and dead.

Which shall it be for you and me, who God’s good gifts obtain?
Shall we accept for self alone, or take to give again?
For He who once was rich indeed laid all His glory down,
That by His grace, our ransomed race should share His wealth and crown.

The Dead Sea receives but never gives, which is why its waters are dead—useless.   Do we want to be like that in our spiritual lives?

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;  not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it”  (Proverbs 3:27).

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”  (Malachi 3:10).