…give as freely as you have received!
Matthew 8:8 NLT
So often in life we find ourselves consistently focusing on what we can get, but rarely placing emphasis on what we can give. As children, we are taught to depend solely on our caregivers to provide us with everything we need to survive. Our first relationships in life are based on what we can get, with good behavior often causing us to obtain even more. This attitude developed in infancy and sharpened in adolescence eventually creates dysfunction.
While this mentality leads to survival as children, it is not conducive to a healthy relationship with God. We view Him as someone designed solely to give us more. If we aren’t careful, we’ll find ourselves going before Him everyday only asking for things, like children with their parents. The justification for this attitude becomes the nature of our requests. We tell ourselves, “It can’t be bad to ask God for more love, money, happiness, and purpose.”
The question now becomes, what do we do with this “more”? The purpose of receiving more isn’t to continue to grow internally without releasing more into the earth. As freely as we receive from God, we must freely give. We have to shake free from this mentality of only taking from Him, and come to a place where our primary focus is what we have to give.
For several years I have wanted to meet a certain person that I consider a great individual. I’ve played it over a thousand times in my head how the encounter would happen. I’ve rehearsed several mock conversations so I could be fully prepared once the opportunity presented itself. The only problem now is that it hasn’t happened yet. I found myself asking God recently why hasn’t this relationship been formed. The revelation I received shed light on my flawed mindset.
I eventually realized the reason our paths had not crossed was because if I had entered into that individual’s life in my current state, I would have only been a “taker”. I would have gone to that person only wanting from them, but not asking what I had to give. I would have used the relationship only for receiving inspiration and validation, but never reciprocating.
The basis of a true relationship should be what we add, not what we take away. My prayer is that God would continue to shift my thinking; just as He has given to me, I want to give to others. I don’t want to keep my gifts and talents to myself, but I now desire to give them away. The theme of my prayer is now, “What can I give?”
The greatest thing Jesus ever did was give His life for all of us. In following Him, the question is now what will we give for Him? I pray that when all is said and done, our greatest accomplishment will be what we gave to the world. Let’s start by asking God to lead us to those in need of what we already have to give!
#givers #notakersallowed #onwardtogreatness