In the part of the south that I come from the connotation that you are a taker verses being a giver is a negative. Maybe that is everywhere, but I know it is true around here. In my day job, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to inspire people to be more generous with their time, talent and treasure. We even coined a phrase called T3 Generosity. Jesus himself says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. And even with all that I still gravitate toward receiving and have to overmanage my heart to be generous.
But this morning, I ran across a stanza in an old hymn that caught me off guard. Honestly ministered to my heart. It is from the hymn ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. You know it right.
Here’s the chorus
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
But the third stanza was the one that got me.
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace.
Did you catch it. As we cease from sin and self, we simply take from Jesus the things we need. Life. Rest. Joy. Peace.
He gives life. Abundant and eternal.
He gives rest for all who are weary and will come to Him.
He gives us His joy.
He gives us His peace.
Today I think I am going to focus on being a taker. Just sit down at His feet and take. Maybe I can be generous tomorrow.
Life and times of the howitzers 