GIVE!

But they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 
-- 2 Corinthians 8:5

Giving is at the heart of the gospel. The good news is after all, the story of God's giving to mankind.

For God so loved the world the world 
that he GAVE...

-- John 3:16

For the Son of Man came not to be served, 

but to serve, and to GIVE his life...

-- Jesus, Mark 10:45

Love gives. It is the DNA of God. It is in the DNA of his redeemed.

When we think of giving, we tend to picture money dropped in a basket at church. It is much more. We may even have the image of a puffy-haired, overly made-up man or women - tear in eye - making an emotional plea through the TV screen. The first is short-sighted; the second is sad.

God doesn't need our stuff. In reality, we have no stuff anyway. We are stewards of stuff; not stuff owners.

And let's take that a little further. This God who doesn't need our stuff, desires our lives. Again, however, our lives are not even our own. As Paul writes:

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price...

-- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Any true giving begins with the giving of self; first to God, then to others. When we give ourselves, our stuff - our time, talents and treasures - always follows. There has always been and will always be a heart-treasure connection (Matthew 6:21). 

Growing up in church, I can't count the number of times I heard the hymn at the close of service:

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to him I freely give...

I surrender all,

I surrender all...

Through all the years and repetition of the chorus, the meaning has not diminished and the power never dulled. (Some of you reading this are humming the melody and have been transported into a joyful place in the past.)

We do not surrender out of selfishness. We do not give TO receive. But when we give, we DO receive. 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, 

running over... for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

--Luke 6:38

God, I surrender all; and where I'm holding too tightly, help me to give.

For now...

D