Givers vs. Takers – The Nature of Jesus: Part Two
In Part One, I shared how my life as a taker—living paycheck to paycheck, craving a better future—was turned upside down when I met Jesus. He didn’t just save me; He began teaching me. I learned about His promises, His provision, and the supernatural ways He blesses our lives when we trust and obey Him. But it didn’t stop there.
One of the most beautiful and challenging parts of walking with Jesus is this: He doesn’t just pour into us so we can be full—He pours into us so we can overflow.
When God began blessing my life, it was undeniable. I saw His hand on my finances, on my decisions, and in the clarity I began to experience. But slowly and lovingly, the Holy Spirit started to shift the conversation. It was no longer just about what God could do for me. It became about what God wanted to do through me.
Jesus didn’t come to earth to take. He came to give. His entire life was a demonstration of what love looks like when it's not self-seeking. And if we are following Him, then we’re being called into the same life of giving.
But what does that look like? How do we become givers in a world that constantly encourages us to get more, do more, and look out for number one?
It starts with a simple shift in thinking: Every blessing God gives me is meant to bless someone else through me.
That doesn’t mean we give everything away or live without boundaries. It means we live open-handed. It means we ask, “Lord, what would You like me to do with what You’ve entrusted to me?”
Becoming a giver shows up in all kinds of ways:
You begin to look for people to encourage, rather than waiting to be noticed.
You find joy in generosity, whether through time, money, wisdom, or prayer.
You walk into situations asking, “How can I help?” instead of “What can I get?”
You discover purpose in serving—at church, in your family, in the workplace—because you realize God placed you there to bring something of value to others.
Here’s the amazing truth: when you begin to live like a giver, life becomes richer than you ever imagined. Not because you have more stuff, but because you’re becoming more like Jesus. Proverbs 11:24 (NIV) says. "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."
The joy that comes from giving—especially when it costs you something—is deep and lasting. It's also contagious.
And perhaps most important of all, giving protects your heart from becoming self-centered, bitter, or entitled. It keeps you humble, grateful, and in step with God’s heart.
You may start as someone who needs every ounce of blessing just to keep going. That’s okay—I’ve been there. But don’t stop there. Let Jesus teach you, most importantly, to live on the giving side of life. Start with the tithe. Give the first 10% back to God. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Obedience to do so turns you inside out and helps you become the best version of yourself, leading you to blessings in a greater, more free-flowing way, transforming you into a generous person with God's very own giving nature! You’ll never regret it, and you will learn and experience God's blessings in a greater, more free-flowing way into your own life.
We see the promise to bring you confidence in this truth in Malachi 3:10-12 (NIV) "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. This isn't a legalistic requirement; it is God's covenant promise, anchoring your mindset in how He wants you to live and be dependent upon Him and His promises, rather than your own strength and ability. It is for us to walk this out by faith!
Jesus taught His disciples, in Luke 6:38 (TLB), "For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you."
So, our focus is never on our blessings, though we would love to be blessed by God. Our focus is this... blessings in a greater, more free-flowing way“...‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
In Conclusion, we all begin somewhere. For most of us, it's in the place of need—learning to receive from a good God who loves to bless His children. But the deeper journey of faith is learning to become like Him. Jesus is a giver. Giving is His Divine nature! When we allow Him to transform our hearts, we move from craving blessing to becoming a blessing. That’s where life truly begins to overflow—not just for us, but for everyone around us.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8
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