Givers and Takers

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35

Are you a taker or a giver? If you’re not sure how to answer that question, think about certain TV personalities. Even though they have genuine talent, their main motivations are ratings, image, approval and profits. Check their background. Chances are that the little girl who dressed up like Cinderella and said, ‘Look at me,’ now lives and performs for the approval of the crowd. Or the little boy who shouted, ‘I’m Tarzan,’ now goes around with a sense of entitlement. John writes about a man in the church called Diotrephes, ‘who loves to have the pre-eminence…’ (3 John v. 9). Leadership coach Dan Reiland observes: ‘If communicators teach out of need, insecurity, ego, or even responsibility, they’re not giving. The needy person wants praise, something the audience must give. The insecure person wants approval and acceptance, something the audience must give. The egotistical person wants to be lifted up, to be superior and just a little bit better than everyone else, something the audience must give. Even the person motivated by responsibility wants to be recognized as the faithful worker, to be seen as responsible—something the audience must bestow upon them. Many communicators teach in one of these modes all the time and aren’t aware of it. Then there’s the giver. This person teaches out of love, grace, gratitude, compassion, passion, and the overflow. These are all giving modes. In each of these modes of the heart the audience doesn’t have to give anything—only receive. The teaching then becomes a gift. It fills and renews.’ Today, ask God to help you become a giver and not a taker.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be a giver to others and not to do acts of kindness to receive praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen