Are You a Giver or a Taker?

I've been thinking lately about the two categories of people I notice all around me, givers and takers. I want to be a giver, because then I believe I will be closer to the character of God. We've all heard the saying, "It's better to give than to receive." This quote, like most great quotes, comes from the mouth of Jesus Himself in Acts 20:35. I believe this in theory, but also from experience.

In my family of origin I have great examples of both, givers and takers. I'm sure most people can say the same of their families. But when I became a Christian at the age of 19 my understanding and practice of generosity went to a whole new level. Now, I want to clarify that I am not saying I give on every occasion, like to the beggar on the street of New York City. I wish I could say that I've gotten to the place where I do give whenever I see a need, but I know being a giver is something God prizes, so I am working on it.

There are so many ways to be a giver, not just monetarily. If you don't have extra money to give, you can give with our life. Give of your time. Give of your talents. There is an inherent blessing when you give consistently and on purpose. God smiles down on us somehow. When we realize that life is bigger than ourselves and we break out of the small thinking of our own little world, we are becoming more like God.

The biggest temptation for believers in America (in my opinion) is to get stuck in our own heads and think about our "little world" and not affect the world around us. It is a temptation to just love our families and our spouses and forget that there is a great big world out there. Okay, for the average person, we aren't going to "change the world" necessarily, but God gives each one of us a sphere of influence. If we change the lives of those we contact every day, even in small ways, we are changing the world, aren't we?

The people we work with, the people we live with, the neighbors who live around us. We can change their lives for the better. We can be a giver when we offer to babysit, or to empty the dishwasher, or take out the garbage without being asked. When we look for ways to be a blessing, the people around you will notice and will appreciate it. It seems like such a small thing, doing the dishes...but it means a lot when you live with someone and they contribute to the house in some way, especially if they don't have to be asked to do it.

These things aren't small things, they are building blocks for God to be able to trust us with bigger things in the future. If He sees that we are willing to sweep the floor or clean the kitchen after someone cooks a meal, He will see our heart to serve and give. He will give us more opportunities to serve and give. Our pastor at our former church understood this principle. He would not allow anyone to do anything in ministry unless they were first willing to clean the church or put announcements on the chairs on Sunday morning. It is the principle found in Luke 16:11-12 "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?"

I wholeheartedly believe in this type of training ground. I've seen people with a heart to give in every area. Anything they can do to bless or help someone, they just do it. No one has to ask. These are the people who will do well in ministry. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. He washed people's feet. He didn't ask what He could get, He asked what could He give. He is our example and I for one am going to pattern my life after the greatest Giver I know.

We will never be able to out-give God, but I'm going to look for every opportunity to give. I am going to serve with my life. I am going to pay a single mom's rent when I can. I am going to buy groceries for someone when I can. I am going to give of my time and my energy, because that is something everyone has...time. I am going to give and not take. This life we live is not all about us...it's all about HIM. Let's open our eyes. There are opportunities all around us to be more like Jesus. Do it for Him.