GIVE, A RARE LESSON, FEW LEARN… WHAT CAN I GIVE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
SOME LESSONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO TEACH AND DIFFICULT TO LEARN…
Text: Acts 20:35 (KJV) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35 (MSG) In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.' "
*1. LOVE GIVES: COME LET US REASON TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE ALL COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION & ACCEPT THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN LOVE AND GIVING.
Years ago I was in a service when the Preacher started the lesson by reading the Word of God.
Then the service took an unusual twist, the Preacher announced this is going to be a service ABOUT GIVING. I want every person here to give somebody something to someone? And the Preacher sat down and started crying? Wow? What is this? For a while there was stillness and quiet. When one lady started digging down in her purse and pulled out something? She then got up and walked over to another lady and gave her the gift she had pulled out of her purse. They started crying and hugging. Another lady started crying and pulled out something and cross the church and told another person how much she loved and respected her and gave her a present. See, no one knew about the giving prior to the service. So no one was prepared. A teenager got up and said I have nothing to give, but I want to give something? So the teen had tears pouring down her face and she went around and started giving “grunting hugs.” I was a visitor and knew only a few people. I started crying watching the people going around the church and hugging and giving to each other. I had a special knife that a friend had given me several years before. I carried the knife and loved the man that gave it to me thus I loved the knife. I saw a man standing over in the corner all alone. I saw he was crying as a sweet spirit came over the place. I felt like I should give him my knife. So I walked over to him and introduced myself to him and I explained how I loved this knife from a friend but I knew beyond a shadow of doubt I should give it to him. We hugged and were crying and he received my gift. I returned to my pew and was enjoying the moment and praising God for what I had seen and felt in that service. The service was very quiet. I looked up and saw the Preacher was praying and crying. I thought how wonderful the service was and that how the Preacher had boldly stepped out of the norm in this service. No one knew my need, but I was so overwhelmed by joy, I forgot about time and was worshipping God. The Preacher came up to me and said, I know you are a visitor and I do not want to embarrass you, but said from the start of the service, I felt I was supposed to give you something, even before I shared the heart of God. Tears were running down our faces. I knew the Preacher was going through a difficult time, we shook hands and there was something rolled up, we hugged each other and quietly left. I looked and there was a hundred dollar bill in my hand. I gave something I loved and I received, my need was met. Wow, this was one powerful service. I learned a new aspect of God.
#2. LOVE GIVES THE BEST IT CAN. GOD IS LOVE AND GOD SO LOVED US --- GAVE THE BEST THING IN HEAVEN…
Many years ago I took my wife to Walmart Christmas shopping. I can’t keep up with her. It was a beautiful, warm day so I went outside and sat on a bench and waited. There was a large wooden box and it had TOYS for TOTS painted on the side. A brand new large Lincoln Continental pulled up and a boy and girl climbed out to place their gifts in the box. I saw the boy place a large TONKA TRUCK, and the girl placed a doll baby in the box and they jumped back in the car and they were so proud of themselves.
I got up and went over and looked, the TONKA TRUCH was rusted and missing a wheel? I pulled out the doll baby, the hair had been cut and she was bald in much of her hair. The baby doll had magic marker all over it. The toys they gave was a heartache for me. No one would have wanted them! No one!
I sat back down and prayed, I thought WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WAS SANTA CLAUS? I knew what I would do! I would wrap that rusty, 3 wheel truck and that dirty old doll and I would go down the chimney at their house and leave them under their tree.
Can you only imagine the surprise that Christmas morning? The kids and the mommy would be so pleased.
THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS REVEAL IN HIS GIVING --- GOD GAVE HIS BEST BECAUSE HE SO LOVED US.
You can give and not love.
BUT YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING…
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
BUT YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING…
*#3. LOVE SHOWS JOY. THE VERY GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES --- REVEALS HIS LOVE!
BE HONEST, EVALUATE YOUR SELF, DO YOU GIVE JOY… GOD DOES!
A friend of mine wrote me yesterday, his wife had lost one of her karat diamond ear rings, she cried and cried. She knew it’s value and worth. He promised her, he would find it. He spent hours in the house, looking, searching. He searched in the yard? The car? Finally after hours of searching he found the diamond and gave it to her. They were so happy.
REMEMBER THE JOY OF FINDING THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, THE LOST SON?
JOY:
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
BE HONEST? DO YOU SPREAD JOY WHERE EVER YOU GO?
*#4 LOVE BRINGS PEACE. WE LIVE IN A DAY WHERE DRAMA QUEENS AND DRAMA KINGS LOVE TO KEEP A HORNETS’ NEST STIRRED UP.
WE EVEN PRIDE OURSELVES AS BEING THE BLACK SHEEP AND I CAN’T GET ALONG WITH OTHERS.
DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A PEACEKEEPER WAS IN THE WEST? It was a gun, a rather large pistol.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN A PEACEKEEPER AND A PEACEMAKER?
Be honest: Do people know you for complaining and drama, or peacekeeper or peace maker.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
DO YOU LOVE TO WORRY, FRET, ARGUE, AND PUT OTHERS DOWN?
Be honest are you a PEACEMAKER? Do you leave the fragrance of peace when you leave?
*#5 LOVE IS QUICK TO FORGIVE. REAL LOVE GIVES A GIFT THAT WILL CONQUER HURT AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT…THERE IS A DAILY ON-GOING BATTLE OF ANGER, STRIVE AND BITTERNESS. WE MUST LEARN TO OVERCOME AND CONQUER THE HURT.
You will make the choice of what you honor and the GIFT THAT YOU WILL GIVE.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:14 (MSG) "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.
WILL WE TRUST GOD’S PLAN?
I am afraid if I FORGIVE, I will be letting someone off the HOOK?
Romans 12:19 (MSG) Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO FORGIVE? THE JEWISH TRADITION WAS YOU HAD TO FORGIVE 7 TIMES?
Matthew 18:21 (MSG) At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?" 22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
What is the big difference? 7 times a day? Or 7 x 70 = 490 x’s daily.
WHEN YOU FORGIVE ANOTHER, IT IS NOT JUST YOU SITTING THEM FREE. YOU ARE SITTING YOURSELF FREE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS DO YOU TRUST GOD? GOD CAN HANDLE THIS!
Freedom comes when we forgive. Then our forgiveness will RELEASE OUR FAITH.
The word is clear. You will cut your own throat.
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
*#6 LOVE LISTENS: ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS TO LISTEN TO THEM.
David was LISTENING GOD SHOULD WE GO TO BATTLE? YES, WHEN YOU HEAR THE WIND IN THE MULBERRY
Remember the Preacher wanted to hear from God. There was an earthquake shaking the foundations: That was not God. DON’T MISS IT?
2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
WE SEEM TO BE SEARCHING FOR SIGNS AND A THREE RING CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE?
Remember the Preacher wanted to hear from God. There was an earthquake shaking the foundations: That was not God. DON’T MISS IT?
There was a BIG FIRE coming burning through: That was not God!
The Preacher keeps LISTENING for God’s voice, there was a STRONG WING blowing over the mountain: That was NOT GOD!
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
God’s design was for one mouth and two ears?
WHAT A SAD SONG: THE GREATEST MAN I NEVER KNEW: GUESS WHO? My DAD, we were just always too busy to listen.
You can listen with your 5 senses. The louder the volume the less you will be heard and the higher your blood pressure?
Watch the eyes and the body language?
Jesus wants us to give EAR.
Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
The gift of listening to others has great rewards. LOVE IS ALL EARS, WE LISTEN AND WE LEARN. Many can never hear because the mouth stays in gear, even when the brain is in neutral.
*#7 LOVE UNDERSTANDS AND GIVES HOPE.
LET US GIFT THE GIFT OF PLEASING GOD! GOD GAVE SOLOMON A CHOICE: WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUNG MAN?
THE LAST GREAT GIFT WE SHALL DISCUSS IS UNDERSTANDING AND HOPE.
1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
DO WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN BE HOPE GIVERS? We can hold on to hope. Understand this: WHEN WE ARE STRUGGLING IN THE STORMS OF LIFE, WE MUST NEVER QUIT, REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON’T QUIT.
Romans 15:13 Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
Conclusion: Love gives: Understanding and hope; Listens; Joy; gives the best; love will show.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com The widows mite?
