Luke 9:23 NKJV
When we talk about Christianity, invariably we talk about giving. Acts 20:35 reads, And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. That's extreme giving.
Romans 12:9-11, Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
King James phrases it, preferring one another in love. Putting the other person’s needs before our own. It’s pricey. It costs us in time, effort and comfort. And sometimes, it seems like a whole lot more give than take.
Many of us are familiar with the passage in Matthew 25:31-46, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay that price just so I can be comfortable in the here and now.
In God’s Word, there is much to be said about giving and very little to be said about taking. But what IS said about taking is equal to all that is said about giving. It was/is Jesus who said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Take and give. Give and take. It’s full circle. In taking up His Cross, He gave His all. In taking up our cross, we are to do the same.
Prayer:
Father,
You have set the ultimate example of give and take. You gave Your Son to take away the sins of the whole world. Be our Strength in our weakness and inability, as we strive to daily take up our cross and follow in Your footsteps. In Jesus’ Name we pray.
Many of us are familiar with the passage in Matthew 25:31-46, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay that price just so I can be comfortable in the here and now.
In God’s Word, there is much to be said about giving and very little to be said about taking. But what IS said about taking is equal to all that is said about giving. It was/is Jesus who said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Take and give. Give and take. It’s full circle. In taking up His Cross, He gave His all. In taking up our cross, we are to do the same.
Prayer:
Father,
You have set the ultimate example of give and take. You gave Your Son to take away the sins of the whole world. Be our Strength in our weakness and inability, as we strive to daily take up our cross and follow in Your footsteps. In Jesus’ Name we pray.
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