Guilty Giving

What do you do with a Bible verse like "freely you have received, freely give"?  Do you set out to share everything you have with everyone you meet?  Do you open you wallet and pour out its contents to anyone who asks?  Do you run to the side of everyone who demands your time?  Is your energy, resources and time to be sacrificed on the altar of the wants of others?  Are you simply to give to whomever, whenever, whatever?  Or, are there some guidelines?

The reason I bring up this line of questioning is that I personally know how guilt-producing it can be to hold back anything for yourself.  I have gone door to door with the Gospel in past years only to feel guilty that I didn't go to more.  I have served people in need and still felt those same pangs of guilt for not having served others.  I have shared resources only to feel bad because I didn't pony up at the next opportunity to put money in the hat.  Am I singing your song too?  Likely.

So, what do we do in order to freely give without giving away the farm or giving ourselves a load of guilt?  I think we begin by looking at the context of the passage: "As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, a drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:7-8).

To me, the context of the above passage is, as you are going about, doing what God has called you to do, making use of what he has given you to use, do so with a spirit of freedom.  Give all he has given you to give in the time he has given you to give it.

Think about this: How much grace can you afford to offer?  How many times can you forgive?  How often can you ask God to bless others?  You can afford to give any of the above without limit because God has given them without limit.  Now, how much money can you give other?  Can you really give every single penny you have?  Can you spend every waking hour serving others?

The point is that we can afford to use what God gives us to use in the measure with which he gives it for the time he gives it.  We cannot give more time or money or energy than is ours to give at the time we are called upon to give it.  However, we can give as freely as we have received.  Jus' Say'n.