03/09/2018
How would you classify yourself; are you a giver, or a receiver? When you pray your morning prayers do you ask the Lord to show where you can be of service to Him, or for a need to be filled? When I asked if you were a giver or receiver I’ll bet you immediately felt that being a giver was good, but had a negative feeling about being a receiver. The fact is that both are good.
“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."”
Luke 6:38 ESV
I have some wonderful friends named Chuck and Jocelin, and in texting with them I recounted something that happened last Friday night. I want to share it with you too...
“Ann and I went out to eat last Friday evening at a cafeteria style meat and three. There was a young 20 something couple who was getting a to-go order in front of us, and when we came to the register the cashier just smiled at us and said "it's free" I kept asking him why until he told me that the couple who just left had paid for our dinner. Ann and I knew exactly what to do and told the cashier to charge us for the couple behind us... who just so happened to be much older than us. Maybe they were on fixed income... I don't know, but I do know that God used that act of kindness in some wonderful way, and I pray he blessed that young couple for listening to His voice.”
I told them this to say that it had been an act of kindness by the young couple in front of me, and that I was grateful for the meal and their hearts for giving. My friends then texted asking whether the elderly couple behind us had passed it on. After thinking back a moment I replied:
“Chuck, I don't know or sure if they passed it on or not, but I kind of think they didn't. My blessing had been in receiving and giving, but perhaps theirs was just in the receiving.”
You see sometimes the blessing is in our giving, and that is good, but many times the blessing is in receiving, and that is not only good, but can be an answer to prayer.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24 ESV
Don’t you find it interesting that Jesus’ disciples didn’t want Him to wash their feet? They would wash His in an instant, but didn’t want to receive that from Him. They had made foot washing an act of pride and shame... not the gift that Jesus saw in it. Honoring someone’s humility and gift is important. Without doing so we are refusing them a blessing, and missing out on the opportunity to say “Amen” and claim jointly in it.
If I am in prayer this morning and the Lord tells me to give $100 to someone, but I refuse to do that what would this say about my faith and obedience? I would be disobedient to the will of God. Right? Well what if someone I knew walked up to me and handed me a hundred dollar bill and said to me “God told me to give you this”, and I refused it? What would that say about my faith and obedience? Would you feel differently if I had prayed that morning for $100 to get me through till payday, but I knew that giving me the $100 would be a real hardship for the person wanting to give me the money? The answer is “No” because we are not to question the will of God; to do that is to say we know better than He does. Suddenly I have placed my will and judgement before God’s.
We are to humble ourselves in his presence and obey as we receive, so that someone else can get the blessing of giving. Trust me, you will find a far greater blessing in that act than you ever dreamed possible. As for the person who was stretching themselves to give... leave that to God because they are obeying his will for them. Who are we to deny them and in so doing deny them the crown of life?
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 ESV
There are times for giving, and others for receiving. Never judge yourself greater for having given, and always be prepared to humble yourself in receiving. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of each man’s blessing.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for allowing me to give of myself and my holdings to others, but I thank you more for allowing me to humbly accept the gifts you offer through your servants. Holy Father, open my eyes to my own pride when it surfaces and stands in your way. Teach me that being humble before you is the first step in all blessings I give... and especially in those I receive. Help me to be gracious in accepting from another’s hand just as I was when you offered me the gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Make me the willing instrument in your blessing another by accepting their gift and giving them my love and gratitude in response. Who am I to send away your servant when he brings a gift from your hand? Who am I to deny Him the joy, obedience, and righteousness of giving? You are my God, and whether I wash the feet of your Son Jesus Christ, or allow Him to wash mine... it is your blessing that changes hands in that water, and your will that was obeyed in drying with the towel of submission. Gracious Father, you always take our gifts, and reward them many fold, but no gift can ever begin unless someone receives; both the giving and receiving are your will, and your blessing. Praised be your name always, and gracious are you in your provision, and in using us as your instruments. Glorious are you Father, and Holy is your name! You give and yet you receive our praise.
Rich Forbes