Give!

Give!

In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 AMP

The Context and Focus:

Paul, writing to the elders of the church in Ephesus, took out time to remind the elders of the importance of the work God had placed in their care. Too many times, we are tempted to think that this is just another job which can be done only when it is convenient, or when it suits our timetable. Where lives are involved, God seems to take things a lot more serious than most men do. Paul reminded the elders of some of God's most important positions  and considerations and these are serving God with humility, teaching the truth at all times, laying emphasis on the importance of salvation as key to access all of God's grace, and of course, finishing well, among many other things. There is none of the above points that a true child of God may make any compromise on; all are important, and all testify to the quality of my personal encounter with God. If men cannot point to a difference between my lifestyle before and after any encounter with Jesus, I need to go back and confirm whatever it is I claim to have received. God has placed me as His eyes, ears, feet, hands and heart, and men must meet and be attracted to God through me.

The Message:

Paul's message in the verse above buttresses this point. His own life had become a personal example of what God's grace could accomplish in a life totally surrendered to Him. Paul could lay down his own life as an example that men could emulate; his personal walk with God had become a public testimony to the world around him. He could say, like he said above, and without any fear of doubt or contradiction, that he had shown, by personal example of working hard, how to help the weak. He had walked the path of weakness and lack before; in fact, in another letter of Paul to the church in Phillippi, he had made it clear that he had learnt how to be content in all situations, whether well-fed or hungry. Because he had walked the path before, he could relate in mercy and kindness with those who were on that path at the time. Maybe God is keeping where I am because he wants me to feel what men feel, so that when he blesses me, I can apply the blessings in a way that glorifies Him. As God seeks to deal with my heart, would I let him work in me that which glorifies Him?

The Conclusion:

I note that the verse says it is more blessed to give than to receive, but I also believe that the secret to a life of giving lies in the ability and grace to receive. It is from the abundance of a heart that appreciates what it has been given that the outflow can come. What can a man give if he has not first been given that thing initially? As a man receives, he nurtures what has been given, causes it to abound and increase, and then he can give back. There is joy in receiving, just as the verse above says, and I must never resist any effort by someone to also be a blessing to me. However, it is important that I do not let it stay at the level of receiving, but I must ask God for the grace to experience the greater joy that comes from giving. In a world steeped in selfishness and greed, this message is timely. In a world that thrives on how much it can amass to itself, today's verse challenges the trend, and charges me to dare to be different. After all, the example of Christ who gave his life for me, which was his all, is there for me to emulate. I have all I need, because I have been given all that matters. The response is mine to make. God's time of favour is here.