A Giving Life

We all love to hear sermons and read books about God’s blessings. It is true that God has a giving nature and we can draw help from learning more about it. But our walk with Christ must move us from a “getting” life to a “giving” life. Jesus empowers this transition in us by replacing our worldly spirit with his own godly Spirit. He tells us, “You have been blessed and now you are meant to give those blessings to others.”

This is a glorious theology — but it may be the hardest transition you will ever make. A getting life is easy; a giving life is difficult — but so rewarding. Remember, Jesus blessed; Jesus broke; Jesus gave away. Often this process breaks down in us after the first step — we don’t get past the blessing part. We don’t allow our lives to be broken before God, so we never make it to the last step — giving. Therefore, many never see the complete fulfillment of God’s purpose in them.

During Christ’s ministry, he performed many acts of giving but the crowds stopped following him when he began preaching difficult truths. Even some of his disciples turned back and Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67). But Peter quickly answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:68).

You see, when Jesus went from giving to requiring something of them, the disciples were forced to make a choice. Would they follow Jesus or would they fall back into their old life where they chose their own agenda?

The agenda Jesus left with Peter was a command: “Feed my sheep.” In fact, he said it three times (see John 21:16-17). He was saying, “Peter, my people need help, so tend to them. Feed them. Give your life for them.”

Jesus was commissioning Peter to a giving life and he does the very same for us.