Freely You Have Received
As God’s children we are to be about our Father’s business, the mission of God. Sometimes, people misunderstand what we are doing. Even people in our own church or fellowship can misunderstand us and say, “You are far too outward-focused, and you are not meeting my needs.”
It is true that if we are so outward-focused that we are not meeting the needs of those around us, then we are doing something wrong. We, as the church, are here in just the same way that Jesus was on earth. We are here to meet people’s needs. If someone is hurting, broken, bound, needing to be set free or seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the church is here to minister to them at the point of their needs.
However, it is important to understand that as needs are met, the expectation is “as freely as you have received, freely give.” When sending his disciples out in ministry, Jesus said to them, “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay” (Matthew 10:7-8, ESV).
Do you want more from God? Well, when you have received portion one, give that portion away. Come back for portion two and give that portion away, and then come back for portion three and follow the same process.
The principle of the mission of God is “The more you give, the more you receive.” The more you are blessed, the more you have to give. The more you give, the more God continues to pour into you so that you can give even more. This principle is a source of hope and encouragement, reminding us that our giving is never in vain.
As God’s people, we are called to reflect the glory, the power and the love of God. We are to receive it from him and give it out to others. As freely as we have received, we are to give.
