Bible Study
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.“
I John 5:4 NKJV
Today we continue with this study series by looking at; ‘Giving is not (always) love’
Giving Is Not (Always) Love
God is all for caring about other people and giving is one way we communicate that we care. Giving helps us to; build strong bonds and relationships, share with those in need, communicate affection, and to show/share the love of God.
So whether we know it or not, there is always a reason for giving.
In John 3:16 we read that …….
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV
Reading John 3:16, we can say that God expressed the depth of His love for mankind by giving His Son. And the reason God gave His only begotten Son was so that whoever believes will not perish but have eternal life.
Here we see the gift of God and we also see the motive of the gift. Every gift is driven by a motive; good motive or bad motive. God had a good motive just as He’d want us to.
Why do you give?
We should give because we love.
Here is another interesting twist to giving; 1 Corinthians 13:3 says…
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:3 NKJV
Aww! This scripture somewhat puts ‘giving’ in parentheses. From it one can infer that someone might be a giver, and yet not be walking in love…. (doesn’t sound really nice, does it?) ?
Now, from John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 13:3 we can say that giving is not always love, however giving is an expression love. You cannot love without giving but you can be giving and yet not be doing it in love.
Giving is an act of kindness and love is kind.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV
A kind person is friendly, generous, and considerate, affectionate gentle and warm. A kind person gives with a good motive.
The Corinthian Church was as carnal as they come, yet none other Church was as gifted as they were. Little wonder Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 specifically to them (and now to every Christian).
From that same chapter, we see other things that may not reflect love as God would love…
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:1-2 NKJV
Speaking in tongues…..great faith….prophesying, having Understanding,….. Knowledge….. and yet …..NOT HAVING LOVE!!
How is this possible? How can someone have such great gifts and yet be lacking in love? How is it possible to be gifted and carnal as well?
Because…….
First, the gifts of the Spirit and manifestations of the Spirit are freely given by the Holy Spirit when He wills and to whom He wills.
Second, ministry gifts were given even before a person is born. So God did not suddenly wake up the day you get born again and say ‘John, now that you are born again, you are now in my will, so, I will make you a prophet’. No it doesn’t happen that way. God purposefully gave gifts to men for the good of the Body of Christ.
See what God said to Jeremiah ….
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
Also, while it is possible to position ourselves better for manifestations of the Spirit, we know that these occur primarily at the initiative of the Spirit and not as anyone wills or wants.
So I believe that 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is saying; … it is possible to seperate a gift from a person.
What person is being talked about here? I, Grace Obomanu, a son of God, born in His image and likeness. I am a spiritual being recreated according to the nature of God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. In my spirit, God planted His seed by His spirit. I have the nature and DNA of God. Which is why Galatians 5:22, speaks of the fruit I am expected to yield/produce….first of which is LOVE..
“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].”
Galatians 5:22-23 AMPC
I am the person bestowed with the gifts mentioned above, and I am the one expected to yield the fruit of the spirit which includes love.
So 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is saying to me: ‘Grace, you speak in tongues, prophecy, have great faith, understanding and knowledge, but do you have love?’ Can you be identified with I Corinthians 13:4-7?; …are you kind, patient, without envy, not boastful, without pride, not rude, not selfish, not easily provoked, not thrilled with evil thoughts, showing endurance, etc???
Truth is that every member of the Body of Christ is specially gifted. And God wants us to have a good balance of the gifts and the fruit the Holy Spirit.
Halleluyah!
We must deliberately and purposefully walk towards making the gift and the person a complete reflection of Christ, in love, character, service and stewardship.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper ?
Well, thanks for joining me again.
Remember that you can access previous parts of this study as follows; Part 1: Study Background. Part 2: The Scope of the Christian Victory. Part 3: How Christians Gained Victory. Part 4: How Faith, Love and Hope Mix Together for Victorious Christian Living. Part 5: Victory Through Love: The Nature of God’s Love. Part 6: Victory Through Love: Characteristics of God Kind of Love. Parts 7 and 8: Victory Through Love: Winning Through Love. Part 9: How to develop our love nature.
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Blessings & Love Always
