Taking It to Work:
I get why so many non-believers think Christianity doesn’t make sense. There are lots of strange, non-intuitive, seemingly backward relationships in our faith. We are taught that a servant is great, and the lower the servant, the better. We’re taught that we should offer the other cheek to a bully, that we must forgive unforgivable people, that we should expect reward and joy in sacrifice, and that we should loan things to people without ever expecting anything back. Also, we should love those who hate us, and do good to those who want to do us harm. Rejoice in suffering. Die to find life. And to top it all, put an invisible God as #1, before ourselves, others or the visible, tangible, attainable pleasures of the world.
Now those of us who have walked with God, we know that those principles somehow work, but to those who are just hearing peripherally what we believe, that is a big pill to swallow; and even for us, some of those concepts are still chokers.
The one we are being reminded of today, is that giving is better than receiving, and that in God’s economy, we gain by giving things away, specifically, our “treasure” and our time. And that’s not confined to tithing and volunteering at church. It extends to our everyday living as a “generous person”; and in the context of our devotional, specifically in the workplace.
That takes some thought, especially if you don’t consider yourself to be a naturally, generous person. Sometimes the best way to learn is to watch others who you would consider to be generous. The intern who sometimes brings donuts on Friday, the coworker who donates his vacation hours to those who need it, the single mother of two who puts the time aside to prepare and lead the workplace Bible study each week, the boss who took the time to shop and drive two hours north of his home, to bring a full Christmas dinner to my family the year I lost my dad. Those are the people to emulate, who exude the generosity that God promises to reward.
Yes, we do believe as Christians that we give away to receive. It may seem a bit backwards to the world, but let’s show them how it works, as His Word works in you, today.
2 Cor 9:11 (ESV) – You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Prv 22:9 (ESV) – The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Luke 6:38 (ESV) – “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Heb 13:16 (ESV) – And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Prv 9:17 (ESV) – Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Remain in Me. The branch is of the vine. I nourish that you might produce. Many are the lures of the enemy. My children wander as sheep. In plenty and in want, the lure of betterment is the call of the wolf. Seek not to receive, but to give; to produce, than to horde. He who desires for self, separates. The greatest treasure of earth given is in depletion; the fullness of life given at birth, depleted fully in age. This is the treasure given, that greater might be given in return. Each has been given allotment, without known count of their days. Trade this and My daily blessing, that you would give more than received. The branch cannot produce with only the substance of the branch; it receives from the vine the greatest when itself prepares to give. The branch that does not seek to give, will not receive, and death will be its end. I give early that you may grow, but only grow that you may give, and give the more. The desire of the Spirit, and of the Father and Son, is to give, and the children of God seek again to give as they have received. For the vineyard puts forth only, and receives only what it needs to continue in giving. Abundantly will I give to the generous, and great will be his fruit at the depletion of his years, and greater still, his reward.
