Freely He gave

Matthew 10:8

Jesus tells the disciples to give freely as they have received.

There are many quotes such as 'to whom much is given much is required'  or 'with great power comes great responsibility'. All these are true.

In a sense, if I have £1, I will give differently if I have £1,000. However the amount I give will be the only difference - how I give depends on how I perceive the amount. If I believe £1 is a lot and I am rich with £1 then I will give a lot - I will give freely. If £1,000 is small to me, I see myself as poor with it, then I will hold onto it tightly. 

Sometimes we forget how much we have. If God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing, we can give freely. How do I see what He has given me? Do I still se myself as poor? Our small can reap an enormous harvest. The man with the one talent held on tightly to what he had because he perceived what he had to be small and underestimated what it could become.

No matter where I am at in life I should love freely and give joy and peace freely. Out of bellies flow rivers of living water. What God pours into us, should flow out of us. We have received much, we can give much. 

Jesus is sitting round the dinner table with his disciples when the unexpected happen. A woman walks in, tears strewn and hair hanging. Her tears fall graciously on Jesus' feet and the woman begins she dry His feet with her hair. Gently, the woman begins to open an alabaster box and begins to pour oil on Jesus' feet. This scene shocks most who are there but Jesus tells the story of two men who owe money to a banker. One owes more than the other and the banker generously clears both debts. Jesus then asks who is the most grateful out of the two. The response is unanimous. Of course it is the man who had the larger debt cleared! Jesus explains that this woman loves much because she has been forgiven much, but the one who is forgiven loves a little. How do we perceive what He has given us, because if we understand we've been (for)given a lot, we will love a lot! GOD WANTS TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO RECEIVE! 

Just with increasing our capacity to believe, God wants us to increase our capacity to receive, and the two are interlinked. I love Malachi 3:1. The Lord in whom you seek is coming! Whenever I was in need of God this scripture was my medicine! I believed He was coming. However when I recovered from the joy I felt digesting this scripture I finally moved to verse 2. 'But who will be able to endure when He comes'. I read that as will we be ready when He comes? I believe He is coming but will I be ready and positioned for His coming. Imagine the 10 virgins-only half had enough oil to make the full journey to meet groom. Everyday we are in need of God, but are we ready? We believe, but are we ready to receive? If I believe it is going to rain, I am going to carry an umbrella outside!

God wants us to be ready to receive all He has for us! And in that we can give a lot :)