Honeybees collect honey from flowers. It could be an assortment of different types of honey in a garden or forest. However, in large coffee estates, honey breeding is done. The bees do not fly far off and would collect nectar from the coffee plant flowers. The honey thus collected has a distinct flavor of coffee. It is a premium product for rich people who like to sweeten their coffee with honey.
Old Testament:
The burnt offerings, peace offerings, and other offerings were like aromas pleasing to God. (Genesis 8:20-23; Leviticus 23:18; Numbers 28:27) That means the intention of the person who offers sacrifice, and commitment symbolized in the offering pleases God.
New Testament:
Paul writes that the gifts for ministry sent by the believers in the city of Philippi were like aroma pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:15-18) The sacrificial gifts by God’s people please God.
Aroma of influence:
The honey that is collected from the nectar from within the boundaries of the coffee estate, smells like coffee. In the same way, the influence of Christians changes the flavor of the whole society. When the missionaries started schools, all people from all castes were welcome. It opened the concept of equal opportunities for all. That aroma has spread, and today the government takes responsibility for running the schools and giving equal access to all. The service of nurses was resented by the majority in India. But Christians pioneered in that area of service as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Now, it has become normal in the society.
Social Transformation:
When Christians in the Travancore region fought for the right for women to wear upper garments, the beneficiaries were not only Christians but all women. The modesty of women and morality of the society were transformed. When William Carey advocated banning Sati, the result was social reform of the whole country. The socially approved murder of widows was stopped, and they got the right to live. The Bible has a book Ruth that is about three widows: Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah.
Am I a pleasing aroma for the Lord?