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<\/p>\nGiving is ALWAYS for the giver. Receiving is ALWAYS a burden. Once we understand this basic principal, we can proceed with caution. We are all quick to receive. Gimme gimme gimme. We are usually reluctant to give, unless someone is watching. But here\u2019s the problem…<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll never forget the time we rescued an Australian Shepherd puppy. He was too young to have done anything that he was born to do. We put in an ad to place him and a farmer calls. We take him to the farm to meet the farmer. The puppy sees the herd of cattle and starts panting and wagging his tail. Keep in mind that there\u2019s a very slim chance he\u2019s ever seen a cow in his young life. We disclaim to the farmer that he may take some time to be trained because he\u2019s never been out of a suburban neighborhood that we know of. The farmer then looks to him and says, \u201cGo ahead boy!\u201d he looks up at us as if to ask permission. We say \u201cGo!\u201d He takes off like lightening and immediately successfully herds the cattle where the farmer wanted them. He was born to do this. He never had to be taught. It was purely innate in him. We don\u2019t have to be taught to give. It\u2019s innate in us. It causes all types of things to happen. Science tells us that giving, no matter how big or small, releases endorphins in our brain. There\u2019s a reason. The Creator made us that way. This explains a parents\u2019 delight in watching their children open Christmas presents. Parents benefit more than the child. The Bible actually says \u201cGive and it will be given back, pressed down, shaken together and running over\u201d\u2026in Red letters, btw. So the measure in which we give will be given back. But what about receiving?<\/p>\n
This is where the whole conversation gets tough. We like to receive things. I know I do. But what we have to understand is that if we\u2019re receiving something, it\u2019s usually because we lack it. Once we receive what we lack, it instantly becomes a burden until it is used correctly. One example of this that is familiar to me is when someone in a visible position receives compliments. They are showered with, \u201cyou\u2019re the best singer in the world!\u201d or \u201cyou are so awesome!\u201d So far there\u2019s nothing wrong. What they do with those compliments is the key. If they choose to wear them, thereby believing that they are the reason for the compliments, then the problem begins. But if they collect it to the side and later, in the quiet place, offer them to God saying, \u201cHey, look what they said about you\u201d, then the compliment is no longer a burden.<\/p>\n
See, we weren\u2019t meant for that much praise. We weren\u2019t designed to receive. We were designed to give. I personally believe this is what killed Elvis. He didn\u2019t know what to do with all the accolades and began believing that he was the reason for the success, instead of believing that God was the reason for it all. There were times in his life that he gave God credit. He even recorded true Gospel records later in life. But he was never consistent in offering the praise in the proper direction. So next time someone is offering something, make sure you\u2019re able to use it, or distribute it correctly before agreeing. Remember though, sometimes it\u2019s necessary to receive what someone is giving just to
\nmake sure you\u2019re not robbing them of a blessing. But again, making sure that you use the gift properly or it will become and remain a burden.<\/p>\n
Something that was previously mentioned is the fact that we only give if someone is watching. Why is that? What is it that makes us need to be recognized for our giving? The answer is quite simple, yet very complex. The simple answer is that we don\u2019t fully understand who we are in Christ. If we knew exactly who God says we are and bought into that, we wouldn\u2019t need anyone else to pat us on the back for doing what God calls us to do on a daily basis. After healing the man with leprosy, Jesus told him not to tell anyone who did this. Why would He do that? Because he understood this principal and as a result, his genuine concern was for the welfare of this man and not His self-promotion.<\/p>\n
So knowing all of this, why is it so tough to just give? I\u2019m as guilty, if not more guilty than anyone reading this. We could talk all day about the various answers to this question but it comes down to one primary thing. We simply don\u2019t trust God. We believe that we must hang on to what we have for fear that we\u2019ll never have it again. But God said \u201cgive and it will be given back to you\u201d\u2026 so why don\u2019t we just give? Trust. Lack of trust also stems from a need for control. If you\u2019ve lived a chaotic life, full of dysfunction, having never been in control of anything that happened to you, you feel the need to be in total control of your life from here on. Sometimes, trusting God means not being in total control. (Lord have mercy! Now I know what mt father means when he says that he often preaches to an audience of one-himself). I didn\u2019t grow up in dysfunction. But I still struggle with trusting immensely. The fact remains, once we trust, giving follows. And what follows that… is the coolest chapter of your life.<\/p>\n
Lastly as a side note, I\u2019ve, all too often, heard ministers referring to Tithes as generosity. The two are not related. Proper perspective is everything. Tithe is obedience. Malachi 3:8. What you give above that is generosity. So when reviewing this, don\u2019t consider tithe as giving. It\u2019s relinquishing what wasn\u2019t yours in the first place. Giving is above and beyond that. Well, this was going great until I said that. HA! Truth is truth. I didn\u2019t make it up. I just scribed it down.
\nGiving is ALWAYS for the giver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Giving is ALWAYS for the giver. Receiving is ALWAYS a burden. Once we understand this basic principal, we can proceed with caution. We are all quick to receive. Gimme gimme gimme. We are usually reluctant to give, unless someone is watching. But here\u2019s the problem… I\u2019ll never forget the time we rescued an Australian Shepherd … <\/p>\n