Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
With a new look
In Order to Receive
There is a popular verse that is widely misinterpreted when used. I say this because when it is quoted it is usually used as an excuse for not receiving. The verse is Acts 20:35, and it is usually read as, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Actually, the full verse says,
“I’ve left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are weak. For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving.’” (Acts 20:35 The Passion Translation).
I hate to burst your bubble, no I don’t; but once you give—if you’re not working—you need to receive or you won’t be able to give again. I got a call a while ago from a woman who wanted to tell me why she couldn’t lone me $20 to pay a bill. She said, “I believe in giving,” but what she had told me next was contrary to what she just said; she was pleading poverty. Ya see, if you begin by tithing—that is giving the first tenth of your income to the church where God has situated you—and then start giving with joy you cannot keep the door shut on God so that you won’t receive; in other words, you can’t help but to receive from God through man. Sure, it is much more fun to give than receive, I love giving and God loves a cheerful giver. But, think about it; once you give you have nothing more to give, so you can’t give anymore, unless you receive. Otherwise, if you give what you haven’t received you are guilty of theft.
“Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift],” (2 Corinthians 9:7 Amplified Bible).
I like this Scripture verse because it speaks volumes. First of all, Jesus is the King and He is on the throne of my heart (He is my heart); so, if I’m going to give as I decide in my heart, that means I am going to talk to Jesus about my giving and give according to His will; that’s joyful giving. Second, it tells me not to let anyone dictate to me, accept Jesus, how much I should give because that would be under compulsion, and that’s not cheerful. You will notice what is within the [ ] in the Amplified, that tells me that when I do this Jesus is in my gift since Jesus is my heart (the throne of my heart).
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And when I do that I am ‘freeing up my attitude to receive’ all that God has for me, clearing space (if you will). So, yes, it is more blessed to give and if you don’t give you shouldn’t receive.
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So, back to the lady who said she believed in giving but always pleaded poverty, I would have to say stop that ugly plea and start giving.
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I know you’re thinking that I’m talking about money. While money is a part of your life, but it is only a small part of what God wants to bless you with. He wants you to begin tithing and giving more than just your money too. But that doesn’t mean you can lay your money aside and do all your tithing and giving with something else, and expect the return on your giving, when it manifests, to be money; it doesn’t work that way.