Secrets of Giving in Receiving

Many times we feel "less favoured" when we have stayed so much at the side of receiving. For many times we have probably been wanting to flip the coin and experience the other side of it--- the "giving" side. Or, we might have been wondering what's with those people who can just give much? Are they "more favoured"? It may sound ironic, but actually in receiving, you will learn how to give, with the right heart of course. Where is this principle coming from?

We, Ate rose and I, were counselling one dear friend a month back. She saw herself as a "burden" because she thought that she has already received much and wanting to payback but unable to. We've cleared the air by telling her some of our well-known saga. We said that the ultimate reason why we can bless is actually because we have been so much blessed. AND, I believe if we ask those people who are generously giving now, many will say "I'm giving because I have received much or I've been there".

Imagine a vessel being poured with water: it will for sure overflow as you pour more or looking at the other end, as the vessel continue to receive; it has no other option but to let the water spill. The tangible things that we have received may diminish but the very act of kindness or generosity is being deposited in our hearts - our "vessels". Citing my own experience as an example, I stayed on the “receiving side” for 3 years or 75% of my college years (not mentioning my childhood days of course). Admittedly, I was discouraged many times but everytime I see His goodness shown by His people, I can't help but be thankful. I know how a very simple act of generosity can fade away any tears because I know the feeling...

So the next time we experience drought, let's impede from thinking less about ourselves because unknowingly (and sadly), these unsatisfying thoughts are actually putting a curb on us in crossing the other line. It's just time for our vessels to be filled and sooner or later, our appointed season will come where we can also just gladly tilt our vessels for our water to leak. Meanwhile, let's learn to be thankful with what we have now; this is always a good start. As Joyce Meyer well said, "A thankful person will be blessed even more with things to thank for." Or you can also refer to our MANUAL and open to Psalm 50:23 where it says, “Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show salvation to him.” God is not so concerned if we come empty handed but He is more concerned if these "empty hands" will be lifted up to offer thanksgiving. This is the secret of King David in opening the doors of blessings.

Another significant thing to add is that we should not start from what we don't have but rather start from what we already have. Like any investors, they don't start from their weaknesses but from every little opportunity they have to supersede any threats. On the same manner, we may now only have "2 fish and 5 loaves" or worse, an empty lunch box, but we have our time that we can wisely invest, skills/gifts as our assets, His promises that will surely come with positive returns... and the list goes on. These readily available resources will take over any surging challenges that we may have. Amazingly, we'll just be surprise that our initial investment can sooner feed five thousand.