Giving and Receiving

Just a few short weeks ago, Pam and I were out and about. We were on the bike and just enjoying the Florida sunshine. At one point in Boca, we pulled up to a red-light and saw an older gentleman standing there with a “Please Help” sign.

Feeling moved by The Holy Spirit, I reached into my pocket, pulled-out my wallet and handed this man a twenty-dollar bill. I don’t think Pam was too pleased at that but, you know how it is… Once you’re moved!

Well, a few short hours later, we pulled into a local bar & grill to have a drink and grab a bite. Much to Pam’s chagrin, there sat that man at the end of the bar enjoying a cold ‘n tasty. Pam then said to me, “Doesn’t that make you angry?”

I’ll talk about my response a little later, but this gave me a little opportunity to think about my life, a while back, when I had taken myself out of God’s world and lived in my own.

We have done our very best, here at Sunrise Chapel, to give to the people in need, helping others when and where we can and always offering our prayers for people who are unsure of how to pray themselves.

I’d like to take just a short while of your time this morning to talk a little about what it means to give and how God expects us to give to one another.

We are Told to Give

All throughout the Bible we are told to “give unto others,” having compassion for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ and sharing the Love He gave to us with everyone around us.

There are some of us here that may have more than others. Likewise, there are some here that have very little. God doesn’t expect us to dig deep in our empty pockets or pull money out of thin air to give to one another. He pretty much leaves the giving thing up to us and what we CAN do.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Is this verse talking solely about money? No, it very clearly tells us to “give what we have decided to give” to help others… something about us. So, what does that mean?

• If you have the money, then give.
• If you can cook, prepare a meal.
• If you’re a mechanic, fix an engine.
• If you can sew, mend a garment.
• If you’re a good listener, then listen.

Pleasing God

Every time we give of ourselves to those in need, our God in Heaven witnesses our good deed. He not only appreciates our kindness but also partakes of it.

Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased.”

• If you’ve given money, Gods a little richer.
• If you’ve cooked a meal, God has eaten.
• If you’ve fixed an engine, God is cruising.
• If you’ve mended a garment, God has a new coat.

Every time we give to one another, we’re giving to God and are pleasing Him.

Sometimes, Unwillingly

How many of you have had something taken from you? I’m not talking about thousands of dollars or your wife’s diamond engagement ring, I’m talking about something trivial, or otherwise, inconsequential to you.

• Somebody ate my sandwich!
• Somebody drank my soda!
• Somebody took my sweater!
• Somebody stole my cigarettes!

Jesus taught us very clearly about this in…

Luke 6:30 – “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”

So, if any of these things happen to you…

• If someone ate your sandwich, they were hungry.
• If someone drank your soda, they were thirsty.
• If someone took your sweater, they were cold.
• If someone stole your cigarettes, you really did need ‘em anyway.

Between You and God

When you have found it in your heart to give to those in need, do not take to the street corners and shout salutations in your name. Do not run home to your wife saying, “Guess what I did today!”

Every time we give, we do so because God has inspired us. He’s put the Holy Spirit into our heart and we have reacted wisely. And Jesus tells us…

Matthew 6:3-4 – “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Keep it between you and God. You’re little secret! You know within your heart, the reward for your gifts will be given to you.

Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Allow me to back-up and add something else to all of this… if God hadn’t wanted you to give..

• If He didn’t want to give of your wages, you wouldn’t have had the strength to pull that wallet out of your pocket.
• If He didn’t want you to feed someone, you wouldn’t have any idea how to cook a meal.
• If He didn’t want you to fix that car, or bike, you wouldn’t even know how to change a spark-plug,
• If He didn’t want you to fix their garment, you wouldn’t be able to thread the eye of that needle.
• If He didn’t want you to listen to someone, you wouldn’t have been able to hear or understand.

God wants us to give!

When You Have Received

Perhaps you are someone that has received some of these great gifts from others. Do you know where they came from? Was it that specific person or was it a gift from God?

Firstly, we need to remember that God will give us all that we need. Our biggest problem is this old world is that we’ve lost our faith in times of need and forgotten to trust in God. Jesus told us in…

Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

When our problems are many, we need to depend on the Lord for His intervention. We need to believe in Him and understand where all of these gifts have come from.

As I said earlier, if you receive something from someone, it is not that their a “loving, wonderful person” or “just a great guy.” God filled them with the Holy Spirit and touched their hearts so, where is it your gifts have come from?

James 1:17 – “Every good gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Know this and understand… all that we are given, comes from our Father in Heaven for we are Loved and cared for more than we can possibly understand.

Pam’s Question

Okay, so back to Pam’s question: “Doesn’t that make you angry?”
About ten years ago, it was around Christmas time and I was driving with my wife to my in-law’s house. We came upon a man standing at the corner, on crutches and quite rough-looking.

I thought he may be a homeless veteran and, being a veteran myself, I felt the need to hand him a hundred-dollar bill. Yes, the wife was pretty angry back then too!

A few short hours later, my brother in-law and I decided to go and shoot a couple games of darts. When we got to the bar, I saw that man. There he was, sucking down beers and munching on a hot-dog. I was irate! I was so angry I wanted to go up to him and break his other leg!

Today, not so much. Today, I understand why I give. It isn’t about what I give or who I give to… it’s about wanting to please my God.

If you’ve given to someone and you feel they have abused your gift… just remember what your gift was all about. You are not to judge as that is God’s job!

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In Conclusion

I’d like us all to sit back and contemplate all the good things we have in our lives and consider them gifts from God. This is all so true as the Bible continually reminds us of this.

• We have a Loving Spouse – God doesn’t want us to be alone, so He give us someone… someone who knows and understand us and will Love us forever.
• We have our Children – In Genesis 1:28, God says, “Be fruitful and multiply.” God gives us our children.
• We have our Friends – God has given us our friends to be with us, encourage us.. as in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
• We have our Jobs – God wants us to work. He wants us to provide for ourselves as in Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
• Most importantly, we have God! A Loving and Caring Father in Heaven that Loves us more than we could ever comprehend and, one day, He will bring us home.

Know your gifts. Understand where they have come from and give thanks always for what you have and what you have yet to receive.

Give unto others freely as the lessons of our Lord has taught us. Give freely, expecting nothing in return and keep it between you and God knowing your reward awaits you.

When you are given to, give thanks. Recognize that the good people that surround you are a gift from God. Anything they give unto you, has been given by our Father in Heaven!

Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless (Amen)