"Giving Gods' Way"

I was awakened early this morning (as is common lately if the Lord really seems to want to share and show me something) and immediately recalled a short conversation I had with someone yesterday while at my sons' soccer game. We discussed how putting emphasis on getting assists (giving the ball away) instead of goals when going into the game was a good strategy for his soccer development.
As I recalled this conversation this morning, the Lord began to encourage me to write this morning about giving from a position of overflow and not of need. Then I clearly heard Him say "Teach them about My way of giving" and immediately several scriptures began to flash in front of me that were very relevant to this topic.
Interesting that one of the first scriptures, which is probably the most quoted and memorized in John 3:16 came to mind. "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" Notice how from the position of fullness of love-God gave to us heaven's best, Jesus. God is a giver and His motivation is always a position of massive love towards us. He is the focus-His greatness, goodness, and compassion on those He created allows us to receive of His loving heart so that we are empowered to give. See, in 1John 4:10-11, 18-19 it clearly tells us that love is defined as God first loving us and not us loving Him and that Him sending Jesus to wipe away our sin is the measuring stick of Gods love. It also indicates that perfect love casts out fear and fear is unfortunately the position that a lot of us "Give" to others from. If we give from a position of fear (most of us don't even realize when we do it) and do kind, nice, courteous things for people we unintentionally expect something or some reaction back from that person. This is why giving out to people has to come from a heart of unconditional love (like the Lord gives) or else it is a set up for disappointment, resentment, and hurt feelings. John 1:16 says, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." When we spend time to get recharged and filled up by concentrating on His love for us, His fullness will be imparted to us and the grace that is flowing towards us because of the cross will empower us to give to others. Giving to other people whether it is God, your spouse, kids, friends, co-workers, or strangers with an agenda behind it is treading on thin ice. I know I spent years and years trying to give just to get from people and it caused nothing but heartache for all parties involved. What I have found in growing towards a permanent shift in this mindset is His love for me is so much more infinitely reliable that when focused on, fills me to overflowing so that I can give.
In Matthew 10:7-8 Jesus told the disciples, "And as you go, preach saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand", "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give". Wow, we give and serve others because we have been given from Him freely! Sound familiar? "We love (God-not here in the original Greek), because He first loved us 1 John 4:19.. in the Greek the word God is not actually there...so we love and give period because God first loved us! Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Giving is done freely-sounds obvious right? But I think if we really were to get before the Lord and receive more of His love and recharge our batteries only on His love for us....we will see our motivation change from a position of bankrupt hearts that love to be loved - to hearts that love others because He first loved us and gave of His fullness all the grace we need to love others. Loving others is a grace that the blood of Jesus provides for you to love others. One of the greatest examples of love motivation transformation (is that a real phrase? LOL) is the apostle Peter. Before Christ was crucified he boasted quite frequently in His love for the Lord and did a lot of great things and good deeds for the Lord. At that time his heart was more filled with passion and desire to do good and be good for Jesus but it got him in trouble. John was more focused on Jesus' love for him and he ended up being the one at the foot of the cross in Jesus' greatest time of need. In fact Jesus entrusted John with the care of his earthly mother Mary.
The point is that once Jesus completed the work at Calvary and the Father sent Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost everything changed. Has it changed you? Or are you satisfied with a ticket stub to heaven and a give to get system of giving and receiving that leaves you and those around you frustrated, behavior focused and judgemental? I lived that "American religion" for too many years and am now experiencing another side of the gospel that quite frankly is liberating! This transformation is ongoing and we never "arrive" fully on this earth but we should be moving forward from one glory to another by His grace. If you are stuck not progressing forward, receive freely more of what is available to you from the Father God (James 1:17) who loves you!
Beloved, there are many places to find evidence in the Word of receiving His love and that alone empowering you to, "Give Gods' way". Here is one that came to mind this morning as I pondered this topic with Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." Love this verse! The spirit of the world is a spirit that gives to get, measures and quantifies their giving, and has ulterior motives when they give--do we? This is what I think the Lord is trying to teach us this morning. It is incredibly liberating and freeing to give from a position of: "Hey, I was freely given all things by a loving Heavenly Father, matter of fact He gave me heaven's best-Jesus-so I'm going to give to others because I have been freely given all things!" Amen? Otherwise we measure the giving of our time, money, efforts by some made up standard in our mind that we ourselves and others rarely if ever measure up to! Guess what happens next? Condemnation and guilt come and start accusing us of not hitting the standard we set for ourselves and others. See what a crazy, vicious cycle that is?
One last thought, remember our buddy the Apostle Peter? Well, after He was transformed by Holy Spirit filling him in Acts 2, he preached an amazing sermon and he and John ministered to a lame man begging for money in chapter 3. Interestingly verse 6 says, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Peter now gave from what he had received and it was the powerful love of God that gave the man not what he wanted but what he needed! Beloved, give Gods' way and you will experience the life of giving you have desired to have--Only this time you will be giving from the motivation of love, not to get back what you gave.
Blessings.