Giving and Receiving
Are you a better GIVER or RECEIVER?
I THINK I am a better giver, it’s a lot less humbling. When someone gives out of their ability into YOUR need, it humbles you to the core. It’s much better to give and a lot harder to receive. I should know…I got humbled this weekend…
Something BAD happened on Friday night. We’re still in our house, don’t worry. But something really hard happened, and Sid and I were crushed. We KNEW that we would recover, eventually…and that God was in control, but this was a serious blow. We had been so focused on keeping the house that we got blindsided.
As I sat at my desk, pouring my heart out to God, my lovely bride made 2 phone calls. She called 2 of my brothers in Christ, and for all I am worth, they are the closest thing I have to blood brothers. I have 1 other brother, and I pray for Richi as often as possible. And just like Richi, or any other brother, they came running when they were called. And I was floored when they just walked into my office. They didn’t have any answers…and they couldn’t fix my problem. But they could pray and provide love and support.
The next day, Saturday, Sid and I were finishing up our garage sale. And a wave of friends showed up. Friends is actually not the right word, they are my family…not blood, but very, very close. And they had some hard questions:
“How much do you need?”
“How much short are you?”
“What is is going to take to fix the problem?”
And I broke down – and they said…”OK, it’s done.”
“What?” I said.
“Yep, we are pulling these funds and those funds together and your problem is fixed. Now, give me a hug.”
I was speechless.
I was on the receiving end of the love and giving, that I had championed for others. I was reaping the benefit of the sowing from my former worship team members. They had learned this from God. And now, they were lavishing their love on me and Sid in a way that I had never experienced before. In fact, I had one of them tell me that he, personally, was making calls for jobs on my behalf. I could do nothing else by thank God, cry, and hug as many of them as I could.
Jesus told us to be His hands and feet. And Jesus also told us that we should take care of each other. We are to love God with all our being, and love our neighbors as yourself. And I believe that we all need to be gracious givers, and even MORE gracious receivers.
My dear brother you do reap what you sow. Sometimes we plant a seed. The growth process takes a long time. If we are fortunate we get to see the fruit of our efforts. But even if we don’t the plant still bears the fruit. You have sown much good seed my friend. This time you got to feel the harvest.
I am trying to be more gracious as a receiver. I know that God is blessing me and Sid and that He is providing for us. I do not believe that we will lose the house, but if it is God’s plan for us, then so be it. I am spending too much time worrying about it.
The people that God has allowed me to lead are steeping up into leadership roles and giving and providing for us. I cannot imagine what my life would be with out all of you and I can never, ever thank all of you enough.
I pray that God blesses each of you and keeps you and make His face to shine upon all of you!