Giving to God

A couple days ago I was thinking about things that I give to God. It's an interesting concept because everything we have comes from God in the first place, right? It's like kids coming up with birthday presents for their parents. I've given God everything in my life. Some things I have to keep giving Him over and over, because I tend to take them back or think I have some claim to them. This is a topic I often ponder, but the new thought was this: What are my motivations for giving things to God? Often it's because I know giving something to God is the right thing to do. It's the best way to live my life. It's how things should be. I realize that He is more than worthy of anything I have. I want Him to control my life. I choose to trust Him. Yet, how often is it from an emotional outpouring of love?

Now, love is not always manifested in emotional outpourings. Jesus said, "If you love Me, obey my commands." When we love people, we often do things we do not want to do because we are motivated by love. However, how much more joyous would it be if all these things that I surrender or gift to God were surrendered not only out of trust and obedience but also because I love Him so much that I want to give Him my very best? Think about it. BTW, I think we were created to demonstrate love differently. I often demonstrate love to God through service which comes from an emotional outpouring in my heart. Don't assume you have to do something a certain way unless the Bible specifically tells you to do so. God is creative.

Sometimes too, circumstances are outside of our control and we cannot give God something that we do not have. However, we can give Him our desires. We can give Him any claim we think we have to the object of our desire. Hopes, dreams, and desires are often some of the things we hold most valuable, aren't they?

Finally, I would say, if God gives you something, hold on to it! Glorify Him in it! Be generous with it! Give it away or give it back to Him if He requests, but I imagine He is hurt sometimes when He gives us something and we doubt it or try to give it back to Him. What God wants He gets. We're not going to be able to keep something or someone by offering it to God and hoping that He is satisfied with that. Have faith that your Father will give you good things and be sure to give Him the glory. Amen.