the Holy Spirit... in you to GIVE.

Most of us focus on receiving. What’s in it for me? No wonder being on the receiving end of so much, with NO EXPECTATIONS FOR compensation or reciprocation, is a bewildering place to be in this world. When we think about marriage— getting great sex, a partner we can rely on to help raise children we want to have, and some added stability— are thoughts that dance through (and linger) in our head. When we think about someone we met for the first time—whether or not they’d accompany us to events we want to attend or how they can comfort us— are typically the first reflections to skate through our mind. “…you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures“ What’s in it for me? Rarely do we brainstorm or seek ways we can serve a new/interesting person we’ve met. Perhaps we lack quality friendships, marital partner, loving parents because our hearts are intent on spending what we get (relationships) on our pleasures. God wants us to GIVE.

In God’s economy, relationships aren’t about what you can get. Relationships are about what you can give. The Holy Spirit’s instructions to us are to help each focus on giving. Yes we get a sneak peek at what we might gain from being on the receiving end of such treatment. But those glimpses should not be the motivation for obeying the instruction. By this token, friendships are about what you can give. Marriage is about what you can give. Being an employee / employer is about what you can give. Being a great parent or sibling is about what you can GIVE. Love God. Love people. God wants us to focus on GIVING.

And YES, God’s word tells us to give (even little things) GENEROUSLY.

2 Peter 1:12-15
I plan to keep on reminding you of these things--even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth. Yes, I believe I should keep on reminding you of these things as long as I live. But the Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that my days here on earth are numbered and I am soon to die. So I will work hard to make these things clear to you. I want you to remember them long after I am gone.