How to be a Giver and Not a Taker, Part 1

by Pastor Jeffrey Smith

I encourage you to take a moment to answer an important question: In life, are you a giver or a taker? Let’s assume there is no middle ground, and evaluate your life honestly. In regards to your relationships, money, career, time, and other areas, is your first thought “what can I get?” or “what can I give?” Do you invest in people, or do you expect people to serve and give to you first? The Bible says in Proverbs 11:24, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Generosity causes our world to expand and grow. A generous heart gives big and freely.

The Bible has an agricultural approach in regards to personal growth and development. An agricultural approach is not a modern way to find answers in life. Today’s society has a technical approach where we expect to find what we need quickly at our fingertips. We also tend to have a mechanical approach, where we assume we can “buy” some solution to our problems. Unless you are a farmer or avid plant lover, an agricultural approach will be a new concept. It requires a lot of patience, time, and hard work. Giving is a lot like planting seeds and sowing crops. You plant seeds of goodness, finances, quality time, respect, love, discipline, encouragement, and these seeds remain hidden for a while before you reap the benefits of your hard work.  

Galatians 6:7-8 says  “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life”.

People are often misled to believe they can get ahead in life without sowing and reaping. It takes time and intention to produce a harvest. We become impatient and frustrated if we don’t see results we want immediately. The biblical approach knows that when we invest and sow seeds over time we will see a harvest.So are you a giver or a taker? I encourage you to be a giver.Your life will expand and grow exponentially.