Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. –Luke 6:38 (NLT)
The call to Christ is the call to serve. Sometimes our servanthood is not appreciated; other times we serve when no one notices. Nevertheless, we are called to serve. Some years ago, Kent M. Keith put together what he calls the Paradoxical Commandments. I like them and keep them close to my heart:
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
GOING DEEPER:
1. How does Luke 6:27-31 relate to your life?
2. What can you do to become a more effective servant of God?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 128:1-2
Couples Devotional: Waking Up Is a Gift