“What Do You Have That You Did Not Receive?” posted by jwatson on Dec 30, 2011

When Paul asked this of the first century church in Corinth, he may as well have been asking the same of us today.

The answer, of course, is nothing. Everything we have, we have received from the hand of God, directly or indirectly. The very breath we take, from moment to moment, is a gift from the benevolent hand of the Almighty. It is by His grace and mercies that we are “not consumed” but rather have hope for a new day.

But we forget. We need reminding as God’s people that the wise, kind Father who loved the world to the extent that He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all has also with Him also freely given us all things.

Why would God be pleased to give us all things? One reason is that so we may give it ourselves to others. Remember that in the Lord’s economy, not only are the receivers blessed by the gift, but we are blessed by the Lord. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Let me tell you about one couple who understands this. They have served Christ as guardians for an orphanage in Latin America, then as leaders in youth ministry in the U.S, and now run their own business. My wife, Helen, and I were thanking them for their support of EE and the husband said, “Well, it’s not ours anyway. It’s only on loan to us.”

How true: Our treasures, time and talents are only on loan to us. Let us together endeavor to invest them where moth and rust cannot corrupt, nor thieves break in and steal.

Your regular support of EE is evidence of God’s grace and mercy towards this ministry. We could not continue without it. Thank you.