Giving

by Jonathan Daugherty

I wrote some articles years ago that have been sitting dormant in a dusty blog in some dark closet on the Internet. Rather than let them just rot away and be forgotten, I though I would begin migrating them over here. I hope you find them useful and encouraging.

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:30-31

I confess I am a selfish person. I didn’t really enjoy writing that, but it is true nonetheless. I often think of myself first when making decisions. I wish this weren’t so. I wish I were noble and thought of how my choices would affect others, rather than only thinking of myself. But I suppose the first step to change is acknowledging the problem.

I think selfishness is common to us all in varying degrees. And this is one reason why I believe so many live discontented lives. There is a paradox in life when it comes to being truly successful: we must give to receive.

Today’s theme idea is to consider what might change for the better in your life if you chose to think “give” first before “take,” even if the giving is demanded. Let’s consider two scenarios. What if someone came up to you on the street, pointed a gun at you, and asked, “Pardon me, could I have $50?” How would you respond? I know how I would. My wallet would be in his back pocket before he finished the question.

But what if someone asked the exact same question minus the gun? What would your response be? Mine might be more cautious, probably spinning all sorts of reasons why it would be foolish to even consider giving such an undeserved gift to a total stranger. Yet, God desires that we have the same attitude toward both these individuals: give.

Ponder this idea for the next week. Over the next few posts we are going to dive into some uncomfortable territory, landscape that forces us to examine our own selfishness and see if we are willing to open our clutched fists and “give to everyone who asks.”

---