“Boys take. Men give.” That was a foundational concept that my husband Jeremy passed on to our son Jake from an early age. A certain level of selfishness is to be expected with little kids. But for us Jesus followers, growing up includes “putting away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). The more we are maturing in Christ the more our “Me first, my way!” perspective ought to decrease and a “May I help you?” mentality should increase.
Jeremy regularly practiced what he preached too. He modeled how to be a giver by doing things like: taking the night shift caring for sick kids, going last through the food line, deferring to my restaurant preference, and taking twice as long to do a job because he took time to involve and coach the kids. These were little gestures that made big impressions to the kids and honestly, also to me.
I want to be a giver like that. Ultimately, I want to be a giver like Jesus. How exhausted our Lord must have been with the people crowding in and pressing around him, never satisfied, always asking for more. (So much like parenthood). More loaves and fishes. More parables. More signs. More healings.
But we never see Jesus lose his cool or give up. He persisted even though no one ever truly appreciated him. No one really got him. And no one paid him back. The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. Like no one else ever, that Man gave.
Our sacrifices are obviously not comparable with Christ’s. But they can still be exhausting. Jesus understands. He sees. He cares. Yet his word tells us to not give up. There’s no indication that we are ever done. We follow his example and keep on giving whether anyone else acknowledges or appreciates or reciprocates our contribution.
Are there any new opportunities today to “man up” like Jesus? Is God showing you a greater opportunity to serve sacrificially at home or in your neighborhood? At school or on the job? With your small group or at church? If so, practice his ways. Be a giver.
“So when He had washed their feet…He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”” (John 13:12-17).
#blessedtobeablessing,
