WANTED: GRACE GIVERS

As the apostle Peter was saying his goodbyes to the Elders of the church at Ephesus he spoke of how he "did not shrink from disclosing to [them] the whole purpose of God" (Acts 20:27).  Truth is, he had poured out his heart for God and had done all he knew to do to lift up Christ. 

     

At the conclusion of his farewell address he told them something he said Jesus had said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).  It was a truth to which Paul had committed himself and by which he had conducted his life as a missionary for God.

     

Giving is a way of being in the world.  It is the way of Jesus, the One who came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28).  It is the way of being the Church in a world steeped in selfishness and materialism.  We are never more like God than when we give. 

     

Jesus said, "Freely you received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8).  He also said, "For God so loved the world that He gave…" (John 3:16).  He gave the ultimate offering; Jesus, God's response to the deepest need of the human heart."

     

Anne Frank wrote, "No one has ever become poor by giving." I think she was right.  Let's be known for our lives of giving, lives patterned after Jesus.