Think Fast
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “give?”
Maybe the first thing to come to your mind was tithing at church. Maybe it was a gift that you presented to someone. Maybe it was sacrificing something you owned for someone else, or possibly even sacrificing your own time to use your abilities to help someone. Here’s the deal, all of these and more can be tied into what it looks like to give. My hope is that over the next few minutes that you read through this blog, you’ll be challenged in the ways that you give, because the reality is so many have given to you.
Receivers
If we’re really honest, we all like to be given something. Being on the receiving end of a gift, encouraging word, or service that someone provides for us at no cost feels great! Especially when what we’re given comes at just the right time. Earlier in the year our son was wanting a specific toy that we were having a hard time finding in stores or online. Periodically I’d stop at Wal-Mart and swing through the toy section to see if they had it in stock. I looked for close to a month and never found it. I began to think it wasn’t going to happen, so I started to let him know that we may not find it. Shortly after I was able to find it online and get it ordered without him knowing. When it came in, we set it out on the counter while he was going through his evening routine. When he saw it sitting there, which we almost had to point out, he was to the moon! It’s the excitement, joy, and appreciation that someone thought of us that makes receiving feel so great. My question though, how often have you stopped to think about all the ways that you’ve been blessed?
Obviously I am not aware of everyone’s circumstances, but generally speaking if we’re able to read this blog, we have been blessed far beyond what we deserve. We are healthy and educated enough to read. We have phones, computers, or other devices to allow us to read it. We most likely have a place to live, food to eat, a place to work, and connections with other people on a regular basis. All of our paths to get to where we are today look different, but we all had people who helped us get there. Whether it was family members, friends, employers, acquaintances, or even help from a total stranger; we have all needed and received help. Better yet, if we’ve put our faith in Christ, then we’ve received the ultimate gift. Salvation through the sacrifice on the cross. Since we’ve already been blessed with so much, isn’t it time for us to give back?
Imitators
When we put our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, life is no longer supposed to be about ourselves. In fact, Ephesians 5:1 calls us to be imitators of God. Paul had spent the previous chapter pointing out the importance of unity within the believers and then begins chapter 5 by imploring them to be imitators of God by walking in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. If we’re going to be givers, we need to do so out of an abundance of grace that is given to us regularly. Here are just a few examples of how we can be imitators of God and give to those He brings into our lives.
Financially
Scripture teaches us that everything we have is from God (Psalm 24:1). When our perspective on our money isn’t focused on what I earned, but what God has blessed me with, and our faith rests in the truth that He is our ultimate provider, we can give financially as He leads us. Not only do we have opportunities to give tithes or offerings to support the church that we attend for ministry to take place, but we have even greater opportunities to give to those who God calls us to bless. Second Corinthians 9:6-7 says, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. My challenge to you when it comes to financial giving isn’t about how much you can give. It’s for you to truly seek out God’s leading on how much to give and where, but to do so with joy as you give, knowing that you’re blessing someone in a way you may never understand.
Time
For most people giving is going to be tied to finances, but in many cases, giving our time can be even more of a sacrifice. We can always make more money, but there’s no way to gain back more time. When we sacrificially give our time to serve others, we are continuing to be imitators of God. Philippians 2:4-7 paints a beautiful picture of Christ’s example for us in this.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
When we are looking towards the interests and needs of others, we are humbling ourselves by putting our needs and desires on the back burner to love on someone else. As a former youth pastor, this was one of my favorite things about going on mission trips each summer. Seeing middle or high school students give up their summer to go somewhere and love on total strangers always blew me away! These kids could be home hanging out with friends, playing video games, watching TV, or anything else they want to do, yet they would choose to take anywhere from a week to two weeks to serve. This was not only challenging to me, but to the students, families, and congregations that they went back to and got to hear the stories of ways God showed up on their trips. It’s in these moments where we sacrifice our time that people see the love of Christ shine brightest.
Talents
While giving of our time shows generosity in sacrificing something priceless, using our talents to give back to others takes it a step further. Any of us can show up to a worksite and pick up sticks or rake leaves, but what about those specific needs that can come up? God made us all social and gave us unique abilities. Some people may be great at construction, while others are better at listening and empathizing with people. Some are great at math, while others may be better at writing. It’s in the areas that we know more and have better skills that we can give back as well. Ask God how you can use the talents and abilities He’s given you to help someone and if you’re open to do it, I’m sure He will show you the opportunities.
One Last Thing
I hope that as you’ve read through this you’ve begun to think about ways that you can give back. The amazing thing about giving is that there really are endless opportunities. Whether we are giving our finances, serving those in need, teaching kids, disciplining new believers, or supporting a friend or family member who is struggling, we should do it all cheerfully. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with a lesson I heard about giving years ago. I don’t remember who said it, but this is what I remember them saying. If you want to become a cheerful giver, start writing checks. If you keep on doing it, eventually you’ll find the joy in it. Their point: you have to start somewhere. Step up. Show up. Sign up. Be available. Be humble and let God work in and through You.
