“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.” – Romans 12:1 (AMP)
Giving is one of the teachings and instructions of the Scripture that has been consistent through the ages and even those who are not believers in God, that is, who don’t know the God of the Hebrews knew to give and they understand what giving meant and the rewards that it births. It is important to know what giving is in the actual sense.
Giving means to part with something for the purpose of another; to present something or someone who is important, useful and valuable to the receiver. No gift is without value. Every gift is valuable, either to the giver or to the receiver, or both. It is easy for many to give their money, time, resources, power or even knowledge for the benefit of another but what’s difficult is to give their lives.
The most valuable of all gifts is to give oneself for another. No wonder this is what God has always wanted to have because anyone who has your life has all that belongs to you. You cannot withhold your life from God and place importance on other material or ephemeral things you want to give. One who has given himself to God totally will have no difficulty giving their possessions to God.
How are you able to give your life to God selflessly? First, you must recognize as the Ultimate Owner of the breath of life in you that makes you a living being – Genesis 2:7. Secondly, the new life you have in Christ Jesus that makes you a New Creation was given through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus and this makes you know that you owe Him your life. Thirdly, everything that consists of your make-up as a human with resources and value to offer was deposited into you by God.
So, in reality, if you are not able to part with your heart and life to give to God and present it to Him, then you are only being selfish with what does not belong to you originally. The Scripture says it is God who gives you power to make wealth, and this is explained in all of its form. When you allow this truth saturate your whole being there won’t be anything too great or too much for you to give to God.
Reflections: Have I truly parted with my life? Do I understand that all I have originally belongs to God and giving them to Him only means returning to Him what belongs to Him?
Confession: I have been created through the life of Christ and I no longer live for myself but for the One who has given His life for my sake. My life honours the Lord daily and I lay it at His feet always. I am not selfish with the resources He has given me.
Related Scripture: Genesis 2:1-9, 1Corinthians 15:1-10
Bible Reading: John 3
