The Grateful Receiver

Laying in bed late at night, having a conversation with two of my closest friends, the subject of receiving came up. When is giving too much? When should one stop receiving? Who deserves to receive and who doesn’t? The conversation quickly turned into the selfishness of people who are receiving from another. How could one continually take from another and never reciprocate the kindness shared? As I laid in bed pondering the question, The Lord brought these profound words to me; in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, Paul writes to the Thessalonians about traditions and procedures. 

“We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked hard and struggled night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. It’s not as though we didn’t have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow. While we were with you, we gave you the order: ‘Whoever doesn’t want to work shouldn’t be allowed to eat.’ …You’re not working, so you go around interfering in other people’s lives. We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to pay attention to their own work so they can support themselves.” (2 Thes 3:8-12)

We can’t allow ourselves to get comfortable allowing someone else to take care of us. As believers, it is our job to get up and work for the things that we are given. If you’re living with your parents, and have no way financially to pay them back; help around the house! Do the dishes, take out the trash, vacuum and mop the floors, do something! Sitting around achieving nothing all day is not the way to go. Show appreciation for the hard work that those giving to you are doing so that you may have something in your pocket. 

Though the person giving to us will be blessed for showering their blessings (Gen 12:3), it is not up to us that we continue to take from those when we have the ability to work to take care of our own needs. My belief is that no adult in their right mind, should feel comfortable taking from another continuously without working for it somehow. If this is you, then get up and do something about it. Ask that person if there is anything you can help them with. Spend quality time with them, and make them understand that you appreciate the gift that they give you. And when you get back on your feet, shower them with a blessing.

Dear Lord Heavenly Father, thank you for the word that you have given us this day. We thank you for blessing us with the people that you have brought into our lives to bless us. Lord as we pray, we ask that you give us the ability to be a blessing unto those who have given to us. And for those that are giving, we pray that your blessings continue to flow for them for selflessly giving of themselves to us. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.