Give and You Will Receive

I get frustrated with giving all the time and not receiving, well as I have been seeing it. This morning I was reminded that we don’t give to receive, but our giving is the receiving. It know, it sounds a bit as though I am speaking in circles a bit, and that is why I forget about all that I have received.

You see, we give, not to receive, but to see that others are receiving that which is good and they are in need of, even if they did not realize that it was a need. I don’t give to others to get something from them, I give to them to remove the need from their plate so that they can focus their attention on other things. I provide for them so they do not have to provide for themselves. Here is an example. Lori makes sourdough bread and over the past few weeks started using nitrile gloves so the dough does not stick to her hands. I noticed she was out of them and went to get a pack for her. This example is not a grand gesture, but one that demonstrates giving without looking for receipt.

The thing is that I did receive something far greater and more important than any physical item. I got to witness Lori using the gloves to do what she does. I received satisfaction that I met a need for her. Isn’t that a better receipt than the monetary or physical items.

“³³I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. ³⁵In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:33-35 (ESV)

Paul, who was from the educated and ruling class, did not have physical possessions as he was in the throws of his ministry. He provided for the needs of others and did not worry with accumulating things, as he only focused on his “needs”. Paul received the gift of spending time with others and providing for their needs as opposed to his own.

“²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” – Philippians 1:23-26 (ESV)

Paul explains his joy is found in remaining in this life to give to others for their joy in the faith and that they might have “ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus”. All the while being content with what he had even being in prison for his actions.

Too often we look to “what’s in it for me” and shy away from thing that do not bring us gifts. This is not the direction of a follower of Christ. We should be looking as to “what can I do for you” knowing that we have what we “need” and will receive joy by ensuring that others are provided for in their needs. I have to remember that I am giving, not to receive, but that I am/will receive just by giving and seeing others needs fulfilled.

Why do you give? Do you give with the expectation that at some point you will receive? What if you were to realize that you are receiving just by giving to fulfill the needs of others?

Love to Fulfill the Law

I believe I have spoken about my wife’s former coworker that we just pour love on as opposed to beating him up to get to church and get right with God. This morning in my continued study of the word “law”, I was brought to the passage that brings that to life.

“¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” “⁸Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:10 & 8 (ESV)

The title of the passage, in my ESV Bible, where these verses come from is “Fulfilling the Law Through Love”. You see, our approach should be one of love. We are called to fulfill the law through love, not through other means. Jesus was the shining example of this approach. He loved all, not just those who would be following Him. He loved the tax collector and the adulteress. He dined with all. He healed those who would come to Him. In all, He loved.

I want to be careful not to glaze over the idea of accountability to our sins. Yes, Jesus loved all without exception, just as He continues to do today with you and me. But, He did not condone all of the actions of those He loved. He dined with the tax collectors yet did not avoid conversation. He spoke truth to the adulteress at the well. In just these scenarios Jesus delivered accountability through truth yet displayed love and forgiveness.

“¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)

We fulfill the law of the LORD when we spread His love to all. Paul, even as he spoke truth to the Corinthian church, did so through love and as you can see above, ended his letter letting them know where the love came from.

Love is from the LORD. We are called to live as the LORD and be His example here in this world. We are then called to live a life of love. Loving others does not mean that we avoid the truth to keep things cordial. Loving others means that we bring the truth but do so to guide and direct to the LORD, not to condemn. We are not the judge of others, that is left to the LORD. We are however bringers of love to the people as Jesus did and in doing so, we work toward fulfilling the law.

What is your approach to fulfilling the law? Are you rigid in the keeping of the rules to be just in all your work? What if you were to simply bring love and truth to all and know that in doing so, you will be fulfilling the law as God intended?

Honor the Law

“¹⁷Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

When reading this verse it may seem a bit confusing when not placed with the right context. You see, “Law” here is referring to the words and teachings like the law of thermodynamics or the law of gravity as opposed to law in the legal sense. These laws are what keep things going and are not able to change. Jesus came to this world not to refute the words and teachings, but to affirm and fulfill them. He proved them correct.

Think about the law of gravity or other sciences. We submit to them every day and where there are those who are out in the world working to prove them wrong, even they obey the law until it is proven wrong. The same goes for the Law of the LORD. People, even I will push the limits in an effort to prove it wrong, but will fall back into obedience when I realize that it is not wrong.

I am not so smart that I can refute the Law of the LORD. I can try, but the LORD is way more smarter than me (yes I know it used incorrect grammar). The same goes for those around with Jesus. There were those who knew the Law of the LORD but even then, they would bend it to fulfill their own will as opposed to allowing it to stand on its own and fulfill the will of the LORD. These “educated” peoples were smart in the knowing of the words and concepts of the Law, yet they were constantly working to undermine it for their own benefit.

“²⁰For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20 (ESV)

I and we are to know and understand the Law of the LORD and as such are to use it to fulfill the will of the LORD and not our own. It is not about me and you, it is about the LORD. His Law should be the law of the land and our driving force in this land. We are here for and at His pleasure and not our own. It is not about being smart, but rather being obedient to the Law of the LORD and that is where we get glory. We give honor to the Law of the LORD and in return, we are honored by Him.

What is your view of the Law? Are you here using it for your benefit? What if you were to honor it and know that in return, we will be honored by the LORD?