June 17: DOING GOOD TO ALL – Radical Giving

Once, a famous Nigerian business man was asked how he was able to continue to live a life of generosity. He responded that the secret to abundance, is giving “ the giver’s hand is always above, while the receiver’s hand will always be beneath”. While this is relatable and human comment, it is a mindset which we, as believer’s in Christ, must vehemently reject. When it comes to motivation for acts of generosity, the Scriptures counsel us to give and do it humbly. The Lord God is Himself a giver as seen in John 3:16 and our God is He who has given us the opportunity to give, as well.

Let us recall the process of pollination by some insects. Particularly the involvement of bees which visit flowers and use their proboscis to extract nectar. These appear to be indiscriminate visits of unconscious giving! During this process, where the bee hops from flower to flower, sucking out the nectar, the bee transfers pollen grains attached to its body from one flower to the other. Just like this simple, natural process, we can in turn glean knowledge from our Creator, His Creation and His Word. Ecclesiastes 11:1 teaches us to cast our “bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days to give portions…”

Again, the Word of God says “give and it will come back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your laps…” Luke 6: 38.

All things, even our human experience is subject to the Word of God. In nature, the bee hops liberally from plant to plant, in obedience to God’s command to pollinate. As a result, humans and animals alike benefit from the obedience of the bee. By giving generously and in humility, we obey our Heavenly Father and the outcome is eternally and boundlessly beneficial.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be obedient to all your commands, especially your command to give. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.