A pastor I once knew would say that there are basically just two ways of life--give or get. It's easy to see that based on Luke 6:38 and similar passages, Jesus taught and lived the "give way." So we could glibly reply--"Well then 'living the give life' means being a Christian." And we'd be done with this.......
or would we?
What does a give life look like? How does it impact our money? Our time? Our friendships? Our sex life? Our choice of churches to attend? The ministries we serve in and whether or not we can be counted on to serve in them consistently? Our marriages? Our...our...our EVERYTHING???
I would argue that very few Christians really understand what living the give life means. Every time I hear someone say, "I don't want to come to that event because it's not meeting my needs." Or, "I can't handle being near that person cause he/she is just a drain on me." Or, "I can't afford to tithe." Or...you name it--I realize we're a long way from the "pick up your cross and follow me" version of Christ-likeness.
How do we fix that?
Honestly, I don't know. I've tried to live and teach it for over 20 years. Still, I still struggle with it and find it even harder to communicate or duplicate it if and when I might get it right. I think it's something "caught" not "taught." I also think it's caught primarily from face time with Jesus--not anyone or anything else. In other words, I think it's our real worship of and communion with him that changes us into a "give way" person--a true disciple. We must want it and choose it--and perhaps that's the hardest part.
Do you?
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