Getting and Giving

In today's culture it is easy to think what I can get from doing something, but in God's culture, it is what I can give that matters, because what I can get is about self, what I can give is about the love we have for God.

God calls us to be a giving people, we are suppose to give God thanks in all things, we are called to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. Our first order is to God. We are suppose to give without ceasing to our spouses and then families and so on. God didn't just say these things to put words in the Bible they are directions for us to follow. When I put myself first, I am being selfish. God warns about selfishness, but today I have seen it, heart it, they will only help if they get something from it, but it comes down to giving without ceasing asking for anything back. Praying and just being in God's presence, thanking Him for every area of my life. I can't make it about how I feel or if I feel like thanking Him, I have to make a choice, set it in my mind and do it. The more I praise Him in the storms, the more I am keeping my focus on Him.

In our marriages, if both give to each other without expecting anything in return, it changes that state of our marriage. When we are both trying to serve the other, it doesn't just honor the our spouse, but it honors God. Because God has called us to love and respect each other. He has expressed how marriage should be in the Bible, those are not just words, but really instructions. When we follow them, it sets a tone for how your marriage will be. It doesn't always mean it will be easy, but it does mean that you can grow together and not just one person fighting for the marriage, but both of you. The devil wants to destroy marriages, he wants to get in and take it apart from the inside. The lie today is I can do it myself, I don't need anything from my spouse. See that is a lie, because God has directed us to be one flesh and in doing so, it is not about self. Selfishness is a sin, being all about yourself is a sin. When we really take a look at what God wants in a marriage it is hard, but with God all things are possible.

What I am saying can be applied through our lives with family, friends and work, it isn't about what we get, but what we give. God has given us direction, they are not just to be read, but followed. When we want order in our lives are we out of order for what God calls us to do?

Hard questions, when we are not following what God wants, are we following God or self?

Remember this, if something someone else does irritates you, look at your own life to see if you do the same thing to others. This is a balance system, it helps us do to others as we would have them do to us.