Today I’ve been pondering on giving. What it is and what is is not. I don’t think we need expensive gifts but I do think we need extraordinary generosity. Material gifts do not bring happiness. But love and caring do. Because when we love each other, we are touched by God.

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. (Luke 6:38, MSG,*)

This Bible verse has been asking me questions today. Is getting or giving your mode of operation? Are you adding good in this world? Are you giving your life or what? Do you live poorly just because you are selfish?

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Luke 6:38, NLT,*)

God’s economy is different than the world’s economy. Getting is loosing. Giving is the way. If we want to have abundant life, we need to first give our lives away.

How could we do that? By surrendering our lives to Jesus every single morning. By loving, by being generous, by sharing kindness. Joy comes – they say – from putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. How true.

One of the meanings of the word ‘generous’ by the Free Online Dictionary is “free from meanness or pettiness”. Being generous means not only being liberal in giving but also being free from meanness.

God called us to love without measure.
Jesus showed us how to do it.
The Holy Spirit will equip and empower us to do it.

It is time to decide whether we want to be generous or not. It’s not about our nature or ability but about God’s nature and his ability. They are ours if we want to. What shall it be? You know, giving is the way.

 

Gracious God,
Thanks for nudging us into the right direction.
Forgive our selfishness.
Turn us from getting into giving.
Turn us from meanness into kindness.
We surrender to you.
Use us according to your plan.
Make us generous like you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you given your life away? Do you think giving is the way?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you turn from meanness into kindness & generosity!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Image courtesy of Dan Johnson. Linking up today with Faith-filled Fridays, Five Minute Friday.