"To Give"

 

    When, through Christ's dynamic and loving presence in us, we devote ourselves to the meeting the needs of others, God devotes Himself to meeting our needs.

 

    "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

 

    Certainly God ministers His supply to our needs through other people.  We rejoice as He does, and greatly appreciate the vessels through which His provision proceeds.  Our determination, however, always flows in direction of, "Lord, this day in my life is devoted to Your glory and the meeting of others' needs."  Thereby the two great commands of both Old and New Testaments are fulfilled, namely that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30).  

 

    Looking to people for spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical provision can only lead to disappointment.  Our own clay feet should tell us this.  In even our best times of willingness, we may lack the capacity to do for others.  Or in times of ability, we may lack the willingness.  Those with whom we live our lives are no different.  We trust in dust if our focus regarding the supply to our needs looks horizontally rather than vertically.  "Vain is the help of man" (Psalm 60:11).

 

    Conversely, when we look up, we spiritually see the sight viewed directly by the Apostle John: " I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11).  Indeed, no one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and been disappointed for doing so.  And nobody ever will.  God's faithfulness "reacheth unto the clouds," and He will always be exactly whom He declares Himself to.  He will be faithful and true.

 

    Again, we acknowledge with much gratitude both the Giver and human vessel of His generosity as God supplies our needs.  However, our days begin at the altar of our Christ-enabled consecration: "Thy glory, Thy will, Thy eternal purpose in Christ, the needs of others, Heavenly Father.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Nothing else."  Upon this basis, we are assured of His consecration to our needs because we are walking in His Truth.  Yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

 

"Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children."

(II Corinthians 12:14)