Give Like the Giver (Rom. 8; 2 Cor. 9:6-8)

Often in my life I have heard people mention that one can’t out-give God. This is absolutely true. Romans 8 tells me that God has freely given me all things in Christ and the chapter is chock full of what He has given: His eternal love, my very life itself as well as my inheritance in Christ, a future hope and glory with Him, the ability to overcome when I face temptations and the problems this life brings, my freedom in the Spirit, and my firm belief that nothing can separate me from Christ. 

Sometimes this idea of not being able to out-give God is used to manipulate people or to distort the truth found in this chapter. This gospel I believe is not one of prosperity, not  in the sense that all things will always be prosperous and go well with me here on earth if I just give enough to God. 

The gospel in which I have placed my hope is Christ alone, who died for my sins, carrying them to the cross, putting them to death so that I might live through His work. He is the giver. I am the receiver. Because He died, I can live. Because He lives, I am set free and have the confidence that regardless of what takes place here in this life, whatever happens to me, I have a future with Him that is incorruptible. 

These things are on my mind this morning because I am thinking about the Giver as I read and study and meditate upon His word. These things are particularly on my mind because of our Myers-Mallory State Missions week of prayer and giving this past month. These things are on my mind because God has changed and is changing my heart to one that is learning to love to give. [My prayer is that He will continue this work in me that is yet unfinished here.]

The propensity to want to give to others hasn’t always been this way with me, and honestly, the struggle to give good gifts probably won’t ever end entirely for me, though I hope that it will. There is too much battling with the flesh, too many distractions, too much life for it to ever be easy, but I am learning that is to be expected. If giving were truly easy (and cost nothing) no one would mind giving and more people would give. What encourages me is that there is change from what I was. I can look back and see a difference from what was once a grasping to hold on to what I had for selfish reasons and a desire to give to God by giving to others and the work He has called them to do.

These things are on my mind this morning, and I write of them not because I am so good a giver or because I want you to notice me or boast of myself, but I write because I boast in Christ and His work in me. He gave me in marriage to a giver, and over the 31 years spent with Greg, I have seen God use his generosity, often hilarious in nature, which reflects 2 Cor. 9:6-8:

6 Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. 7 Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. 8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. (Amplified Version)

Greg’s giving is bountiful, not for a reward or recognition, but because he wants others to experience blessings. It blesses him to give thoughtfully and with purpose. It used to drive me insane when he started asking me how much to give to missions and people at different times through the year. I thought I wanted him to make the decisions as he had done in earlier years. But God in His wisdom let my husband in the wisdom gifted to him see that I needed poking and prodding out of my own selfishness (in tolerating his hilarious giving) and my laziness (in not wanting to be the one who decided ever what to give) and my separation from his giving (never feeling like I was truly a part of what he chose to give without letting me know how much he had given, resulting in feeling like I wasn’t a part of his decision). Look, I never said that my feelings were legitimate or rational or even sane, but I felt outside the loop of our giving, so he started asking me to pray about what we should give; what began as half-hearted prayers began to change. Soon, I began to see the Spirit’s work in prompting both of our hearts to give, often the same amount. Honestly, I still want him to make the final decision of what to give because I understand better his role now than I did so many years ago in leading our family, but now I feel a part of what we give as a family, and the more we give, the more I want to give. 

I am still learning to give like my giver. I am learning (God, please let me continue to learn and embrace whole-heartedly those lessons you are teaching me about giving) to give more like the Giver. I am thankful for God who gives abundantly for the purpose of “every good work and act of charity” and pray that I will continue to trust His provision, His sufficiency in all things. I pray that I will be thoughtful in my prayers about giving and give unbegrudgingly, cheerfully, full of heart and compassion for those the gift ministers to. I pray that I will never fall into the trap of believing my gift is anything but a sign of His work within me, His prompting of my heart, His gift in allowing me to share in the work of the gospel. 

My boasting is Christ and Him alone.