"Outgive"

They say you can’t outgive Him,

And that’s what I believe,

Put it to the test sometime,

And see what you receive.

Maybe you give money,

When the offering plate goes round,

But air to breathe and strength to work,

Are what you’ve always found.

Maybe you did the hardest,

Forgave when you were hurt,

But God forgives eternally,

The blood of Christ our worth.

You gave life to your children,

You worked, gave sacrifice,

Expecting from them their respect,

Their honor will suffice.

But God has no conditions,

On the love He freely gives,

Never any strings attached,

Agape love still lives.

Forgiveness we have all received,

And now we pass it on,

No matter how bad we’ve been hurt,

We send it right along.

God comforts us in trouble,

His comfort gives us peace,

We comfort those with problems,

And help by grace release.

God graces us with gifting,

Equipping us to serve

So exercise the graces,

Stand up and find the nerve.

You see I could go on and on,

But ultimately it’s true,

God really gives like no one else,

It’s what He wants to do.

So blessed when we receive it,

And more when then we give,

Jesus came and gave His life.

And showed us how to live.

So Christmas is for giving,

So filled with Christmas joy,

We give the bounty we’ve received,

To every girl and boy.

“…It is more blessed to give than to receive…” (Acts 20:35, NLT)

According to the apostle Paul, Jesus said these words. They are not recorded anywhere in the gospels. Not in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. But here, as Paul spoke for the last time to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, he said that they should always remember these words from Jesus. It was in the context of the fact that he had worked and supported himself financially while with them. He had set the example of hard work, which enabled people to give. What if we looked at work that way? As a means, not only to provide for ourselves, but to help others. And then, to become a person who willingly gave. It is more blessed to give than to receive, but it’s also true that we give because we have received. And God says we are not to hoard our blessing, but give it away. Whether, forgiveness, or comfort, or money, or gifts of the Spirit, or love- if God gives it to us it’s with the understanding that He wants to bless others through us. Be generous. It’s what the Lord wants us to do.

Lord, give us the blessing that comes to those who give, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.