Christian Living
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.
First Corinthians 13:3, provides another interesting twist to giving….
“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.
From that same chapter, we see other things that may not reflect love as God would love aside from giving…..
“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 both be gifted and carnal as well?
Because…….
Gifts of the Spirit/Manifestations of the Spirit are freely given by the Holy Spirit when He wills and to whom He wills. Yes we can position ourselves to express these gifts, but still, they manifest as the Spirit 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 or Pastor, or Teacher’. It doesn’t happen that way. The Lord Jesus purposefully gave gifts to men for the good of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12, Jeremiah 1:5). Can these gifts be developed? Absolutely.
So I believe that 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is saying; … it is possible to seperate a gift from a person. And this is possible because although we receive God’s love nature at the new birth, we must feed, nurture and strengthen our spirit-man (ministry gifts or not) in order to express the fruit of our recreated spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22…
“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
So the way I understand it, First Corinthians 13:1-3 is saying to me: ‘Grace, you speak in tongues, prophecy, have great faith, understanding and knowledge, wisdom, …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 of the Spirit and the Fruit of the 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!
Giving Is Not Always Love was first published on Grace Obomanu Blog 16/04/2.
