Give and receive! – Dr. Paul Dhinakaran

“…Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
These days, a new strategy has evolved to sell the products in the markets – ‘buy one, get one free’. Everyone would be very happy to see these advertisements because they are getting something for free. But at the bottom of the advertisement, you will find a statement that would say ‘Terms and conditions apply.’ Yes, my friend, nothing is free in this world. But the Lord has given us many blessings free of cost and expects us to give it to others too. Every child of God is a giver. A person who refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25). Giving not only denotes financial support, giving can be in any form. You can give your time to your loved ones or a word of encouragement to those who are discouraged. Your giving will yield rich rewards. Sometimes we tend to count what others have done to us and repay them accordingly but true love helps us to do good without calculation. We should abound in such good character. God also teaches us the principle of giving and receiving. He says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). Whatever you give for others will come back to you.

A poor lady’s daughter was sick. So she wanted to treat her daughter with grapes since that was her favourite fruit. When she searched for grapes, she found it in the garden of the king’s house. She asked the gardener to give her some grapes for the few coins she had. The gardener asked her to speak to the king’s daughter. When she spoke to her, she gave her a basket full of grapes. So the poor lady gave those coins to her. But the king’s daughter refused it saying that her father was not a merchant but the king, and asked her to keep the coins for herself.

Yes, our Father is a king too. So He doesn’t need anything from us in return. The only criteria He places before us is that we behave like children of the king in the sense we too should freely give for freely we have received (Matthew 10:8). Jesus says this in the context where He healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and drove out demons. We should freely serve others by giving our money, our love and our time. God doesn’t take from anyone. When someone gives to the Lord for His work, God pours it back to them till they overflow with blessings. He even says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10). The only way we can test God is in our giving. Will God ever fail in His test? Never. So you can give generously and receive greatly from the Lord.

Prayer:
Loving Lord,

Thank You Father for speaking to me today, through Your word. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to spread the gospel as I have received it freely. Lord, make me an instrument to carry Your word. Let me be prepared and prepare others for Your coming. Help me to give generously and receive greatly from Your hands.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.