Live to Give

 

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

—Acts 20:35b (NLT)

 

 

Live to give. Don’t live to get. Jesus lived and died to give. He knew that it was more blessed to give than to receive. “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul wrote. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NLT). Jesus was rich in mercy. And at the Cross He made himself poor for your sake so you might be made rich by His generous grace.

 

Do you know you are rich in His abounding grace? Giving yourself away is something that comes from entering into the finished work of Jesus. You cannot have the unselfishness of Jesus without entering into His presence. Daily time in His presence is where you find His generosity of Spirit. Without that day-to-day intimacy, your desire to be as He is fades away. It is like Moses covering His face not because God's presence was too powerful to be seen, but because God’s presence in His life was waning. If you don’t regularly enter and re-enter into God’s presence, you lack growth in faith. The power that you receive from His presence also fades. Day to day is where you find God—not week to week. 

 

Jesus shared from what He had. Share from what you have. “And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed” (Hebrews 7:7, NLT). When you help someone in need out of His abundant grace, you are the one who is blessed. Your heart is soft and pliant. Your spirit is sensitive to Him. You say “yes” to whatever He asks because He is your joy. 

 

“Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly” (2 Corinthians 8:11b-12a, NLT). “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (2 Corinthians 9:7, (NLT). Don’t give because it is required. Give when the Holy Spirit has reached out to you. Cheerful giving comes from the heart of Jesus.

 

Many people live to make as much money as they can so they will feel secure. Their security is in something that can be lost tomorrow. They live to get. They forget that the only real safety is in God. But there are those to live to give. They know the joyful freedom of giving. They don’t give to receive. They give to bless others and then end up being the ones who are blessed.

 

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs" (Matthew 5:1, NLT).  When you realize you are "poor" in your need for Him, you seek Him daily. And then you, who were poor, become rich in His Spirit. God promises you the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of Heaven comes in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. You daily enter into His finished work of grace.

 

Have you experienced that it is more blessed than to receive?  Giving is an attitude of your heart, just as Jesus giving His life was the attitude of His heart. You don't have to be rich monetarily to give. You have to be rich in His Spirit. Don’t live to get the world’s riches. Live to give His.

 

2020 Lynn Lacher

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