“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6
“Now He who supplied seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10
Yet again another lesson that life just isn’t about me. Oh when will this heart stop needing to hear that? We have been learning about generosity the past few weeks and as we conclude our study, I (Andrea) thought I would share what God has been impressing on my heart should you choose to read…
Throughout this study, my thoughts have never wandered far from my living, breathing, God-sent example, my Isaiah 53 Suffering Servant. Generosity revealed! What a paradox of emotion for me as I consider His gift – it thrills and breaks my heart – all at the same time! He came because He loved. He gave because He loved. He gave first! And He gave most! He paid my debt, covered my sins, justifying my account when He didn’t have to. I know infinite words of praise could never testify fully of His grace that sought me in my yesterdays, that covers me in my today, and that will persist in all my tomorrows!
He was and so I am. He gave and so I give. He loved and so I love. Were it not for Him, I would have nothing to give. That alone brings me to my knees… All I have to give back to Him in whatever capacity I could fashion or fathom, He already gave to me. This whole idea of generosity is all about Him. When I find myself so caught up in what and how I can give, I remember I could never give back in proportion to all He has already given me! What I can hope to do is to give Him my best, to love Him with all my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength. And when I do, He makes a way for me to see that it really is not about me at all…
I have been learning this year about giving my whole heart. It is an everyday, minute by minute decision, battle sometimes, to be yielded completely. Believe you me, I am learning and have still much ground to cover… But He is teaching me that my heart can only be His completely when it is none of mine. Yes, He wants my whole heart. He wants it so He can fill it right back up with Him! A canvas conveying His glory!
We keep hearing about the reward God has for us when we give… When I think in human terms about what I will get back for all my efforts some day, He gently reminds me that, again, I am making it all about me! He has already given reward enough! Grace when I was unlovable. Grace when I was unfaithful. Grace when I am me. Grace!
But just like God does, He goes deeper still! He offers more! Beyond loving me all the way to Calvary, there is reward further still, a blessing produced when I give, emptied of me and full of Him… The question is am I willing to receive it? Do I stop to really recognize? Do I comprehend that a life emptied of me points someone else directly to Him?
We love because He loved us first. We give because He gave first. Apart from anything else promised, blessing enough is that we are pointing straight to Him! They know whose we are! Luke 6:35 says “and you will be sons of the Most High!” Do you see it now? When we pour out our lives, He can move through us, overflowing Himself onto the lives of others all around us. Humbling to think that another would see Him in me! Blessing produced and multiplied!
I included some of my favorite verses from Corinthians above. To me, they are a much needed reminder of where I get all I have to give. He alone is the supplier of the seed I sow! And He is the One doing the growing! No reason for it to about me at all…
A life given, emptied of self, and pointing to Him! What more could we give? Give because He gave. Love because He loved.
Sons of the Most High, they will know whose you are!
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