Givers & Takers

There are givers and there are takers. I’ve been on both sides of this. There’s a third category called receivers. For now, I want to address the first two categories. Givers give. Takers take. I know that there are people right here where I live who make a sign and put it out there that they need help. I’ve become a bit hardened by that when it’s often a show. I have purposed to give to homeless shelters to help the homeless. I know that there are desperate people who seem to have nowhere to turn. I just don’t want to perpetuate the problem.  When a person is a taker, there is never enough to satisfy their appetite for taking. We often assume that takers are all poor – they’re not. Some takers in our culture are millionaires many times over and still taking from others. I get so frustrated by the takers that target the elderly.

Jesus spoke about the givers and takers. I feel challenged to grow as a giver and dial way back my desire to take. Check this out…

¹While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. ² Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

³ “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. ⁴ For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

This lady was a giver in this moment.  She trusted Jesus. Her giving was extremely sacrificial and generous.  I don’t ever want to give the Lord the leftovers of my money. I want to give Him the “first fruits” of my money.

Our church just had a huge Thanksgiving Offering and I was thrilled to participate. I know that there were people who gave sacrificially and there were those who gave just a little. I don’t have any idea how much others gave, but I know what I gave and what it represented for me and my household.  Giving is very personal between me and God. He knows not only how much I give, but He knows the heart behind it.

I don’t think people should give until their heart is right before the Lord. Paul said it well in his second letter to the church at Corinth. Check this out….

⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:2 NLT)

I want to be known by God as a generous giver.

I want to be known by God as a child of the King.

I want to be seen as a kid who represents my Father by how I give, live and love others.

Pressing On!

Dwayne