"There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches."
~Proverbs 13:7 (NKJV)
In our household we have a Biblically based list of Family Legacy Commitments. The verse quoted above represents our position on financial wealth. We can in no way be considered financially set, but this does not stop us, nor should it stop any Believer regardless of their financial situation, from having a Biblical perspective of money.
I came to be thinking about this commitment while considering the concept of giving and receiving, specifically receiving (which tends to get less focus than the former). I have heard people say, and almost bought into the concept that, “You have to learn how to receive from others.” Of course I know what people mean when they say this, however I still don’t buy into it…for two reasons.
First: human nature does not need to learn how to receive. It is not in our nature to think less of ourselves and more of others without, conscious, intentional effort. Some people do indeed have a problem accepting charity or gifts, but this is usually not for the sake of thinking more of others, but again of ourselves: pride and independence. So even the concept of having to “learn how to receive” is not really about receiving, but about something else completely.
Secondly and supremely important: knowing “how to receive” is irrelevant from a Biblical point of view. Other than receiving Christ and His Grace, I have never found a scripture that can in any way be interpreted to mean that if you don’t learn how to receive from others you will: fail to be a vessel for Christ, be a bad example of a Christian, go broke, lose blessings of any kind, or reap anything other than exactly what you have sown. Why is this? Because whatever you sow, you will reap. Period. There is nothing you can do about it. You don’t ever have to worry about making sure you receive all that’s due you…it’s coming whether you seek it or try to run from it!
And it is for this very reason that it is better to GIVE than to receive. How you GIVE is the ONLY thing that matters as it relates to receiving. The true riches go to those who seek more opportunities to give than to receive. This is the commitment our family has made; and we don’t need to have a lot of anything to follow through on that commitment. How about you??
Give Well Friends,
Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~
I came to be thinking about this commitment while considering the concept of giving and receiving, specifically receiving (which tends to get less focus than the former). I have heard people say, and almost bought into the concept that, “You have to learn how to receive from others.” Of course I know what people mean when they say this, however I still don’t buy into it…for two reasons.
First: human nature does not need to learn how to receive. It is not in our nature to think less of ourselves and more of others without, conscious, intentional effort. Some people do indeed have a problem accepting charity or gifts, but this is usually not for the sake of thinking more of others, but again of ourselves: pride and independence. So even the concept of having to “learn how to receive” is not really about receiving, but about something else completely.
Secondly and supremely important: knowing “how to receive” is irrelevant from a Biblical point of view. Other than receiving Christ and His Grace, I have never found a scripture that can in any way be interpreted to mean that if you don’t learn how to receive from others you will: fail to be a vessel for Christ, be a bad example of a Christian, go broke, lose blessings of any kind, or reap anything other than exactly what you have sown. Why is this? Because whatever you sow, you will reap. Period. There is nothing you can do about it. You don’t ever have to worry about making sure you receive all that’s due you…it’s coming whether you seek it or try to run from it!
And it is for this very reason that it is better to GIVE than to receive. How you GIVE is the ONLY thing that matters as it relates to receiving. The true riches go to those who seek more opportunities to give than to receive. This is the commitment our family has made; and we don’t need to have a lot of anything to follow through on that commitment. How about you??
Give Well Friends,
Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~
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