Torch, Spring 1994

broadened my thinking to remind that the principle of receiving way beyond money. In 1993, my wife, Betsy, and I expecting what we thought one child. Four months into the cy, we found out we were · g three children, and for remaining four months, my 's hours of bed rest steadily d. Family, friends, and family overwhelmingly nded to meet our needs– ork which she could not do I could not get done, meals we could not make, and tion which was sometimes t to give our two-year-old Even now, several months bringing home three healthy , we find ourselves receiving ' generous gifts of time, , and resources. began stretching my tanding of receiving. My and I often discussed how best nd to this person's offer to or that person's gift of baby . We did not immediately it, but we were becoming stewards-of others' giving. our personal experience, we that each of us has a nsibility to use wisely what is n to us or put at our disposal day by friends and church y. Acts 20:35 comes to mind in any ion of stewardship: " It is blessed to give than to ive." Comments on this verse to de-emphasize receiving use that detracts from the ing of giving. But the text not say it is not blessed to ·ve; it simply says it is more to give. While we certainly ot add to God's blessing, we help the giver sense even more 's blessing when we biblically 've what he or she offers. w To Receive Well 10 Torch Matthew 25 gives Christ's parable of Paul told the the talents-the report of the master Corinthians that their "generosity will who entrusted talents of money to his result in thanksgiving to servants before leaving on a trip. God...overflowing in many Upon giving them, the master expressions of thanks to God" expected responsible ~ction fro~ his (9:11,12). I am sure that he also servants. Upon returnmg from his thanked the Corinthians many times, trip, he expected accountability for and not only did he do this privately, that action. 1\vo of the three servants but publicly as well. fulfilled his desire. His rebuke of the Thanking God continually is one who did not use his talents important, and so is thanking a appropriately shows that the person. Yet, again, the simplest of servants' responsibility went beyond principles-the age-old art of sharing merely accepting their master 's appreciation-is often hard to resources. practice. As much as we made it a Paul recognized the same point, my wife and I sometimes forp responsibility in 2 Corinthians 8 to thank a person promptly. While we and 9, in which he shares how he should thank the giver as soon as we will collect the Corinthians' offe ring. can, God encourages us to express Simply accepting this offering was gratitude regardless of the timing. not the end; he was concerned that in Being in a college setting, I hear receiving their money he would professors tell about letters they "avoid any criticism of the way we receive from former students thanking administer this liberal gift. We are them for their influence. In some taking great pains to do what is right, cases, it is months or even years after not only in the eyes of the Lord, but the professors had contact with them. also in the eyes of men ." (8:19-21) but these former students continue to If receiving well goes beyond reflect on the significance of the simple acceptance, what steps must influence. My wife and I continue to we follow to receive well? Both thank some people long after they Matthew and Paul share very simple helped us because their significant principles; but, as my wife and I giving overwhelms us. No gift or deed found out, they are principles which is too trivial for appreciation. are easier said than done. 1. Receive humbly. Throughout 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, we see Paul 's humble spirit. He recognized their "eagerness to help" (9:2) and knew that unless he received it humbly, it could lessen their eagerness. Paul wanted to be sure that God was honored in the receiving as well as the giving (8:19). It was difficult for my wife and me to accept others' involvement in our lives, because we wanted to think we could do it on our own. We finally concluded that we should not quench others' eagerness with our pride. If we did, both we and the giver would lose. We resolved that if we were offered help, we would not tum it down. They were honoring God in their giving; we must honor Him by welcoming their giving. 3. Honor the give1 by fulfill his desire. When the master entrusted the talents to bis servants, he indicated that he wanted them used