Deposits And Withdrawals!

Someone has said, “Family units are like banks. If you take out more than you put in they go broke.” [source: calendar quote] A right BALANCE is necessary for healthy family life and good solid families are filled with activities of giving and receiving. Regular deposits (input) provide something from which to draw individually and collectively. We need to learn to give, but in order for others to have their opportunity we also need to learn to graciously receive. As this is true within our own immediate families, it is also true within the family of God. We must all be conscious of fulfilling our role to the best of our abilities. Sometimes we give and sometimes we receive, but to be on one side or the other all the time is not healthy for our individual lives or for the family of God as a whole. Through the recognition of how much we need each other we must find the healthy BALANCE between giving and receiving.

Looking at the ministry of Paul it does not take long to see how much he was willing to give. To the church at Corinth he stated his willingness to “gladly spend and be spent” for their souls. ( 2 Corinthians 12:15) However, Paul also experienced being on the receiving end. He was greatly encouraged in his ministry by the church at Philippi as they had partnered with him in both “giving and receiving.” ( Philippians 4:15)

Writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul exhorted…
“(15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, WHEN EACH PART IS WORKING PROPERLY, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” ( Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)

The word used by Paul for “working” is the Greek “energeia”. Each part of the family of God functioning properly helps to power and energize the body. Are we mindful of the energy we contribute to the Body of Christ? Are we thankful for the energy others bring to us? To always be on the “receiving” side takes away energy, but to always be on giving side can cause us to burn out. May we find the right BALANCE in our “one another” life together as we learn to generously give and graciously receive.

Have a great day MAINTAINING HEALTHY CHRISTIAN TRANSACTIONS!
Carl

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