Give Again

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) Jesus says so. But I bet, you can attest to this truth in your own life. Where have you found the most meaning in your life? Where have you had those moments where you experience what life is all about? Where have you found the most satisfaction in life?

Has it come in pleasing yourself? Has it come when you’ve done something that is best for you? Has it come in your acts of self-gratification or selfishness? Has it come when you’ve focused your energies and attention upon getting what you want?

Has it come watching hours and hours of TV? Has it come through spending money on yourself? Has it come because you’ve eaten well? Has it come by elevating yourself by talking poorly about others? Has it come by holding grudges, not forgiving, and being prideful? Has it come from yelling, blaming, hating, judging, or lying? Has it come when you’ve lived, acted, and talked like you are the center of the universe?

When have those moments come?

I sat with a group of people this weekend who, with tears in their eyes, talked about some of the most meaningful times in their lives. All of them had the same foundation. They were times when they gave themselves away. Those are the times when they felt the most blessed.

When we give ourselves away to our spouse, we are blessed.

When we give ourselves away to our kids, we are blessed.

When we give ourselves away to our neighbors, we are blessed.

When we give ourselves back to God, we begin to see the source of all blessing.

Don’t be satisfied with getting the fleeting satisfaction of a new shirt, watching a good game, or eating a good meal. Don’t be satisfied investing in a hobby, or the stock market, or in collecting all sorts of material things. Don’t think that is all there is to life – one little moment of happiness – and then need to look again to find and acquire the next moment of happiness.

Does your hobby bring tears to your eyes? Does an increase in the Dow Jones Industrial Average give purpose to your life? Does the purchase of anything for yourself make you feel like you are making a difference in this world?

Practice Giving. Do it again. Do it again and again. Do it until it becomes more natural for you to give than to get. Be the one to do the dishes. Be the one to eat last. Be the one to take the hardest job. Be the one to give encouragement not seek it. Be the one to respond when you hear of a need. Do it anonymously. Give. Give again.

Don’t expect from your spouse, serve him. Don’t see your kids as a hindrance to your plans, make them your plans. Don’t see your work as toil, see it as service for others. Stop focusing on what you keep and start focusing on what you can give.

And remember, this giving and giving and giving, is not simply the means to a fantastic and blessed life. It is what Jesus did and does for you. He gives. He will give. He gave. Be like Him.

“For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?”
Matthew 16:26a

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21

Give = store up treasures in heaven = source of true blessing
Get = store up treasures on earth = fleeting = soon to be consumed, stolen

Do you believe Jesus? It is more blessed to give than to receive.