Love The Giver More Than The Gift
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3
Have you ever heard the expression, “Love the giver more than the gift”? It’s pretty straight forward and it’s sad we even have to remind ourselves and each other to not forget. The danger we read over and over again in scripture happens when we fail to love God more than the benefits of being loved by God. When that happens we can easily find ourselves becoming ungrateful. Ingratitude happens when we value what we get more than we value the person with whom we receive the gifts. The Bible teaches us that “even sinners love sinners for what they get in return” which is to say the world will love you as long as you are providing a service or fulfilling their wants or needs. But, when your giving stops, more often than not, they are gone.
Grace is different. God’s grace produces a different kind of love. God’s kind of love is a preferring others over ourselves kind of love. God’s love isn’t based on reciprocation, God’s love is based on a choice. God chooses to love us, often times in spite of us. I know me, and I can be unloving, but not God. He loves perfectly all the time, its His very nature. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world at His own expense when He gave His one and only, His only begotten Son for us. God’s love cost Him everything and yet it cost us nothing. We are the recipients.
So, how do we make sure we never lose our gratitude? First and foremost we pray and ask God to give us a heart of gratitude. Cultivate a heart and mindset that is thankful all the time. The bible says, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Never grow tired of saying “thank you” to people and to God. Don’t take credit for the blessings in your life as if you deserve them. Don’t forget, “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above...” Heaven isn’t the big Costco in the sky where we just go down the aisles and load up on our hearts desire. Heaven is where God is, His throne is there and He is seated upon it. Remember heaven is about a person, it’s about a relationship, and the greatest gift God has ever given to this world is the gift of Himself. Make it your aim every day to fall more in love with the giver than you do that countless gifts He gives to us. When we do, even the gifts themselves will mean so much more.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life”
John 10:10
I LOVE YOU!
Ephesians 1:3
Have you ever heard the expression, “Love the giver more than the gift”? It’s pretty straight forward and it’s sad we even have to remind ourselves and each other to not forget. The danger we read over and over again in scripture happens when we fail to love God more than the benefits of being loved by God. When that happens we can easily find ourselves becoming ungrateful. Ingratitude happens when we value what we get more than we value the person with whom we receive the gifts. The Bible teaches us that “even sinners love sinners for what they get in return” which is to say the world will love you as long as you are providing a service or fulfilling their wants or needs. But, when your giving stops, more often than not, they are gone.
Grace is different. God’s grace produces a different kind of love. God’s kind of love is a preferring others over ourselves kind of love. God’s love isn’t based on reciprocation, God’s love is based on a choice. God chooses to love us, often times in spite of us. I know me, and I can be unloving, but not God. He loves perfectly all the time, its His very nature. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world at His own expense when He gave His one and only, His only begotten Son for us. God’s love cost Him everything and yet it cost us nothing. We are the recipients.
So, how do we make sure we never lose our gratitude? First and foremost we pray and ask God to give us a heart of gratitude. Cultivate a heart and mindset that is thankful all the time. The bible says, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Never grow tired of saying “thank you” to people and to God. Don’t take credit for the blessings in your life as if you deserve them. Don’t forget, “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above...” Heaven isn’t the big Costco in the sky where we just go down the aisles and load up on our hearts desire. Heaven is where God is, His throne is there and He is seated upon it. Remember heaven is about a person, it’s about a relationship, and the greatest gift God has ever given to this world is the gift of Himself. Make it your aim every day to fall more in love with the giver than you do that countless gifts He gives to us. When we do, even the gifts themselves will mean so much more.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life”
John 10:10
I LOVE YOU!
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