Minute for Eternity

Isn't it wonderful when we hear clearly from the Lord? I am increasingly convinced this communication from God is based more on my own state of humility and readiness to listen than on the power of God's Word. His word is unchanging and life-transforming; I just need to stop, look, and listen! Just this week, I was overwhelmed as the Holy Spirit spoke to me through God's Word with such clarity about the actual condition of my heart.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 1:1-3)

It's an "I" problem isn't it? All the strife I feel in relationships has everything to do with me or with someone else exerting themselves and saying, "I want it." We get upset when things don't give us what "we want." We couch it in nicer terms, such as, "You'd think that after all I've sacrificed and done...I'd get..." Or, we say to ourselves, "I've done my part, it's about time they did their part." I've heard these terms from fellow ministers... "But we've poured our very blood into this work...we deserve (want)..." Oh, how the self gets in the way! Our very prayers are left unanswered as we desire, because our Gracious Heavenly Father knows our selfish motives and loves us too much to feed our egos and ruin us further! Thank you, God for living above my selfish world! James gives the antidote for this evil self-centered cycle:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 1:7-10)

That makes perfect sense and yet it is so simple. Rather than trying so hard to include myself and God's best, (i.e., double-mindedness) just drop the "me part!" When I realize the "me part" is what the devil desires, it makes it easier not to seek "what I want," submit to God, and watch the devil run with his tail between his legs! God is plenty able to take care of each of us better than we do when we are "looking out for ourselves." It's His job to lift us...in His good time!

ACTION POINT:
The next time you're faced with the need to make sure others know your value and your needs, submit those thoughts and words to the Lord. Resist pride and the devil, surrender it to the Lord, remembering... "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." We all need His Grace!

Jeff Myers has suggested there are two types of people in the world, depending upon our daily and hourly choices: Givers and Takers. It seems that with every action we either feed or starve the two competing sides of our nature, the Giver side and the Taker side.

Our Inner Taker equates to the injured part of our soul. It makes constant withdrawals from the bank of life. This side of us can never get enough! It consumes, consumes, consumes. The Inner Giver, on the other hand, makes deposits. It appears in moments of selfless action: like when we give others the benefit of the doubt. We come up with ideas to help make life better for others. This "giver" side must be intentionally cultivated and disciplined, but when it is, our lives become vibrant expressions of God's grace!

Think for a moment about the culture which influences people every day. Which side of their nature is being fed? Which side of your own nature is being fed? We are bombarded with literally hundreds of commercial messages a day everywhere we look and listen. Each message encourages us to consume more! It appears obvious that by allowing kids to be overly-immersed in the entertainment and commercial culture we are feeding their Inner Takers. And because their Inner Givers won't grow unless intentionally cultivated, we have raised a generation whose primary identification is as consumers, not producers.

Let's contrast the significant difference between these two types of people. Those who give in to their Inner Taker ultimately live miserably! They don't build anything of enduring value, they don't leave others better off, they don't rescue the perishing or care for the dying! They suck the marrow out of life, and then they just die, leaving nothing of value. But those who cultivate the Inner Giver learn to build and deposit and grow. They gain favor with God and man. When difficulty chips away at them, it reveals a deeper beauty. They are blessed.

Takers walk away from difficulties.....
Givers take them as they come.
Takers tolerate people.....
Givers shape them.
Takers grow more needy.....
Givers grow more generous.
Takers fill their houses with junk.....
Givers fill their lives with memories.

You and I develop into givers or takers through the endless choices we make every day.
It's paradoxical isn't it? That meaning only comes to you when you impart meaning to others? That joy only floods your soul when you spread joy to others? That you are filled with blessing only to the degree that you bless others? The good news -- and it is very good news -- is that it's never too late to begin starving your Inner Taker and feeding your Inner Giver. It starts with the next decision you make, and with how you answer the question: "Am I taking or giving?"

ACTION POINT:
Of course, the issue for most people is not that dramatic. They're not totally narcissistic and hedonistic, but they're not Mother Teresa, either. They aren't shriveled and bitter, but they sure aren't selfless saints. They just sort of exist. Let's be honest. How many days do you submit to enormous drudgery just so you don't feel like a failure? You exist...just responding to life as it comes...taking as much as you can. Each choice you make allows you to choose to be either a TAKER or a GIVER. You know what? The world has plenty of takers, but can never have enough givers. Be a giver!