"They Don't Know"

They do not know, how can they,

Just children, don’t you see,

Don’t understand the sacrifice,

Just so their lives could be,

Better than the one you have,

You wanted more for them,

But now they do not get it,

From whence their blessings stem.

They often take for granted,

Or worse, think they’re entitled,

And you know that’s a crying shame,

Presumptuousness unrivaled.

And so many times you think it,

But somehow never say,

Demand that they respect you,

But that is not your way,

Because your love is generous,

And you do not keep track,

Of anything you’ve given,

Or if they pay you back.

But because I see it,

It makes me love you more,

And I want to be like you,

On my rights close the door.

You say it’s because Jesus,

Was generous with you,

And you just pay it forward,

And joyfully it’s true.

So I have now decided,

I will talk with Him,

About how selfish I can be,

Surrender all and then,

Give to Him the feeling,

That I must always measure,

What I’ve done and what they do,

Instead, seek godly treasure,

Knowing God sees what we give,

And He’s the only One,

Whose smile should be important,

And when it’s said and done,

A living’s made by what we get,

And working hard’s okay,

But a life is made by what we give,

By what we do and say.

“Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full- pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap…” (Luke 6:37-38, NLT)

This is one of the most beautiful, hopeful things Jesus ever said. Maybe you’ve heard someone use this verse to encourage people to give money to their ministry or church. I would suggest that this promise is far more important than giving something as trivial as money. Rather, Jesus is talking about giving mercy instead of condemnation or judgment. He’s talking about giving forgiveness instead of holding onto resentment. And, truth is, we do not give these things in order to receive them, and Jesus knew it. We give these things because God has so generously given these things to us! When we give, we get caught up in the cycle of grace, and the process affords us an every-increasing supply of generous blessing. Give some. Get some more. Give some more. Get even more than that, and so on, and so on…

Lord, help us to give mercy as generously as You’ve given it to us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Weller, donweller.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.