Giving and taking - it's a cycle. Trees give us oxygen, we give them carbon dioxide. Flowers give bees nectar, bees spread their pollen. Shrubs known as acacias give ants food and and homes, and in return the ants weed out the neighboring plants who are vying for sunlight and attack insects who would eat the acacia, even attacking mammals who pose a threat to the shrub.
In the same way, we give and we take. We work and provide others with products or services and then in life we require their products and services. But what I'm talking about now is something spiritual. We take from God. We accept that he created us in his image and adopted us as his children, despite our rejection of him. Since before the fall of man he adopted us to be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4). In all this we see that God is give-give-giving. Grace is a great example; he gives to all who ask for it and, oftentimes, to those who don't.
God has given to me. He's saved me from death and promised me eternal life. In between, he's conforming me to the likeness of his Son (Rom 8:29). If you want tangible examples of his generosity, he allowed me to be born in a Christian home, gave me a great church with LOVING people, led me to do a Discipleship Training School in the Sierra Mountains, and led me to do a School of Biblical Studies in Canada; not to mention all my possessions, support of prayer and finances, and even the fact that all my close family is still living. So what do I do with all this!? When do I stop taking and start giving?
Though you never stop receiving, we all come to a place where we must start giving. Now I'm not saying that I won't do any more schools, go to college, or accept things from people. But there is a great need for me to step out and start giving more of my money, time, and - well - myself. It was in response to the longing in me to pour out all I've graciously been given that I've decided to staff the Discipleship Training School at YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Turner Valley. I'm excited to disciple other young people and help lead them on outreach.
So that's how I got where I am - I saw that I was taking a lot and felt the need to give. I need to give more of myself in other areas as well, and I'd encourage others to look for ways to give. Giving is love. So don't ever stop receiving from God and from others, but don't stop giving. As my friend Tim explained, a lake with an outlet is a healthy one. A lake with no outlet becomes stagnant.
Peace
