“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” -Matthew 10:8 (NIV)
It’s easy to read the words of Jesus here, and think of all the physical blessings I have. Because I have so much, I should share or give to others. It may look like me cleaning out my overflowing closet because I can give 3/4 of it away and still have clothes to wear. Or it might look like me going through my crowded pantry and taking unused items to a food pantry. Or maybe, because we’ve been blessed financially we can give money to a charitable cause we’d like to support.
Maybe you’ve done this too, and that’s great! Don’t we want the Word of God to inspire us to action?
But, I wonder…
Maybe Jesus is talking about more than physical blessings, and more than just giving. In Matthew 10, Jesus has chosen his 12 Apostles. They have been given gifts and the power and authority to use them. These are not physical gifts they were given, but spiritual: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Then Jesus says, now that you have received, go and give likewise.
Give likewise. Because we’ve received so much, we must give so much, right?
But, are you constantly giving of yourself, taking care of your kids, your husband, the house, your friends? Are you practicing Hebrews 10:24, thinking about your church family members and considering how you can encourage them to do good works? Those are all good things, and things we should be doing.
But do you feel tired? Do you wonder why no one is taking care of you? You’re doing all this reaching out, but who is reaching out to you?
Or maybe because you feel so tired, you’re not reaching out to others. You’re exhausted and lonely, who could you possibly help?
I know that feeling. I’ve felt lonely and isolated with no emotional energy to pour into others. My kids and my husband got the scraps of what energy I had, but I was often sad that no one was supporting me. Who was there to hold up my arms like Aaron and Hur did for Moses in Exodus 17?
Are you missing the key to giving? First, we must receive.
Receive what, you ask? And from whom? We must receive our spiritual nourishment. I heard Sally Clarkson say on a podcast, “You must be fed in order to feed.” It makes so much sense when it’s applied to our physical needs, but what exactly do we receive from God? Love, joy, rest, mercy, grace, patience, forgiveness, peace, freedom, kindness, wisdom, goodness, and so much more! And how do we receive these wonderful things from God? I’ll tell you what’s helped me.
First, read your Bible. God has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). His very own words are right there in your Bible. Wonder what God’s purpose is for you? Read your Bible. Worried you’re not teaching your kids the right things for living a spirit-filled life? Read your Bible. Feeling lonely? Read your Bible. God is there with an abundance of love. He has a message especially for you, but how will you know it if you’re not reading His words so clearly printed on the page (or screen).
Second, you must pray. You can’t be in a relationship if only one of you is talking. God speaks in his Word, you speak to Him in prayer. Sure, God knows everything you are thinking and what you are going to do before you do it, but how can He give you good gifts if you’re not asking (Matthew 7:11). Give Him your worries, your doubts, your requests, and see if you don’t feel better. Prayer is necessary for you to name what is troubling you. It can be easy to ignore negative emotions and feelings, brushing them aside for the sake of comfort. But in prayer, we can name that bad feeling we’re feeling. Give it a name, call it out, and ask God to help us deal with it.
Also, in prayer, we’re not just asking God for what we want, but we’re asking God for what He wants. Ask God to show you who to talk to, where to give, what to do. Then listen for His voice nudging you to where you need to be.
Third, you can receive spiritual nourishment by surrounding yourself with God’s people. Do you go to church? Are you in a Bible study? Do you spend time with your church family outside of church functions? For introverts, that can sound scary and life-draining. But you need people in your life that can help you carry the load, to help you when you fall down, for clarity and purpose when reading the Bible and praying leave you feeling a little confused about what God is saying to you.
Relationships can be tricky, but worth it. Do you go to a crowded event, and leave feeling lonelier than you did before you went? Then find one person you can talk to. And don’t forget the first two steps, reading and praying. When you’re filled up on God’s word, then you feel more confident in who God made you to be, and you can be more brave in developing relationships with others.
I can say this because I know from experience. We started attending a new congregation, and I often felt lonely and left out. Because my older two were in school, and it was just baby and me most of the day, I started a habit of Bible reading during her morning nap time. This quiet time I spent with God almost everyday changed my life more than anything else. I quit worrying about who wasn’t doing this or that for me and started thinking about what I could do for others. It gave me life.
Receive first, then you can give. Turn to God for everything you need, then give to others abundantly.
I’ll leave you with a Bible verse. If you would like some questions to see what this verse means to you, click below for the free downloadable worksheet. Precious friend, I pray that God will reveal to you what he wants you to see.
“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30 (ERV)
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