GIVING — A Poem and Some Pondering Points
The Giver
God’s scandalous kindness and His excessive goodness gush forth unhindered. Revitalizing streams of mercy and vast oceans of grace are free for the taking.
The upside-down kingdom where in giving we receive and in dying we live defies human reasoning.
Yet every time we give, as led by Him, we are splashed, refreshed, and invigorated by Love Himself.
Praise Him!
The Divine Design—A Paradox
Enriched beyond what’s given
Replenished by His grace
Supplying, never lacking
Decadent disgrace
Obnoxious overflowing
Continual supplies
Giving from His fullness
Barrenness denied
Receiving in the giving
Mysterious refrain
Deepening communion
No loss, only gain
Profound cooperation
Spirit-led insight
Giving brings reception
Awareness. Closeness. Life.
Spend yourself in service
Provide for other’s care
Give, then give some more
Give wildly—it’s a dare
Faith receives then offers
Shares with open hands
Watching as our Father
Unfolds His brilliant plan
Receiving in the giving
Upside down, but true
As our Good God Himself
Invites, delights, then proves
The blessing in the Blesser
Favored beyond compare
If only we will give
In faith, with love, and prayer
n. gibson
Photo—Mike Lewis
Points to Ponder
Never be afraid of giving up your best, and God will give you His better.
Hinton
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
Amy Carmichael
In all of my years of service to my Lord,
I have discovered a truth that has never failed
and has never been compromised.
That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities
that one has the ability to out give God.
Even if I give the whole of my worth to Him,
He will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave.
Charles Spurgeon
The most obvious lesson in Christ’s teaching
is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything,
but only in giving.
Henry Drummond
The more you give, the more comes back to you,
because God is the greatest giver in the universe,
and He won’t let you outgive Him.
Go ahead and try.
See what happens.
Randy Alcorn
Eternal Truths
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
They are to do good,
to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share,
thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that
which is truly life.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
if service, in our serving;
the one who teaches, in his teaching;
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;
the one who contributes, in generosity;
the one who leads, with zeal;
the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Time to Give
Don’t hesitate to give a quarter of an hour every day for meditation on some promise of God to His Church—and then plead with Him for its fulfillment.
Andrew Murray
And, dear reader, I would like to give you a gift! I created a playlist of songs about the One who gave His all to give us new life—Jesus. Click here for the Spotify link.
