THE HEART OF A RECEIVER

 

Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again.

                                                                                                     Luke 6:38 (KJV)

Everyone seems to be familiar with the heart of a giver, not because we all possess this heart, but because the world around us beckons on us to be givers. Religious leaders, even pastors, speak loudly about the need for us to give more; but I noticed a missing aspect of this message that I haven’t heard preached from any pulpit: the act of receiving.  

We’ve been taught about giving and the blessing of being a giver just as the above scripture promises, but givers haven’t been taught how to experience the rewards of giving: this accounts for why some people do not experience the rewards of giving.

The above scripture begins with a command to give and it is followed with a promise of receiving – it couldn’t be any simpler than it is. While we give to men, we fail to realise that it will take men to also give back to us. But this can only be possible – except in special cases of supernatural intervention – when we ASK.

Asking is at the core of the heart of a receiver. Everything that man needs for his earthly and spiritual sustenance has been made available to him on earth through human vessels. As a principal of earth states, “you reap what you sow,” it applies also to the area of our needs. When we give in the area of our needs we attract to ourselves the provisions for our needs and this can be assessed through asking another man for the provision of the need. Because you qualify as a giver, you have the right to have your request met by another as the above scripture promises.

The heart of a giver is a heart that is disposed to receiving when given and it is also one that is disposed to request of man when in need. Some givers have a challenge with asking help from others, but they will readily give to anyone that request a thing from them even to the last of what they have – they cut themselves short of the reward of their lifestyle of giving by not asking and receiving when given a thing by another. They sometimes assume it an act of humility, but it isn’t.

God often put the reward of our giving in men. Cornelius in the bible is a perfect example. His good alms came before God as a memorial, and God put the reward in Simon Peter, and asked Cornelius to go get it from him. Elisha, also had a similar experience when he needed sustenance during famine, God sent him to request the provision of his need from a widow.

So take advantage of this, and the next time you have a need as a giver, thank God for the provision, request of him to cause you to identify the carrier of the provision, and be bold to ask the person or anyone you feel would be in the position to meet your need. Be informed that this principle also applies to spiritual needs: God has put the spiritual provision you asked for in a man. Locate him and enjoy the reward of your lifestyle of giving.

EXERCISE

Identify the needs in your life, thank God for the provision, ask him to enlighten your eyes to carriers of the provision; write down the names of those in your sphere of contact that can meet those needs, approach them in faith that they are obliged by virtue of your been a giver to give to you.

FURTHER READING

Acts 10:1-6, 1 Kings 17:8-13,

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