Give Yourself First

Well, now, friend, look at you moseying’ up here on this ol’ front porch like a fresh blessin’ with legs. Pull up a chair and let’s git to jawin’ a lil’ bit. Now, if you’ve ever watched a chicken try to fly or a possum pretend it isn’t bein’ seen, you know some things in life just don’t make any real good sense. But here’s one that’ll make you scratch your head even more. The Macedonian believers were poorer than a lil’ barn mouse in the cold of winter, yet 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 says they plum overflowed with joy and begged for the privilege of givin’. They begged like an ol’ hound dog beggin’ for scraps under the supper table. And right in the middle of that miracle of generosity sits the secret. 2 Corinthians 8:5 says, “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord.”

That there’s the whole key. The people didn’t git things started with their wallets. They just started first with their hearts. And when your heart belongs to Jesus first, friend, everything else follows like lil’ ducklings trailin’ in right behind their mama across the pond.

Most folks think generosity comes from abundance, but the Bible says it comes first from surrender. The Macedonians didn’t give because they had extra. They gave because they’d already handed themselves over to God. And once you’ve given Him your life, your future, your plans, and your security, givin’ money, time, and anything else becomes about as natural as breathin’. It’s just one more thing that already belongs to Him anyway.

And here’s another truth to tuck down deep in your pocket. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops.” God isn’t after all your stuff. He’s after your heart. But once He has your heart, your hands follow and open up, too.

If you’re holdin’ yourself back, you’ll hold everything else back, too. But when you give yourself first to Christ, obedience flows easier, generosity flows freer, and joy flows fuller. You stop givin’ out of pressure and start givin’ out of love.

Father, I give myself to You first. Take my plans, my fears, my resources, and my heart. Teach me to trust You so deeply that generosity becomes a joy, not a struggle. Make my life an offering that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well, there it is, friend, remember as you make plans to return to the adventures of your day that a heart surrendered to God is like a lit lantern shinin’ brightly on a dark trail. It plum lights everything around it. It warms up what’s feelin’ cold. It guides what’s lost. And it shines a whole lot brighter than any special gift you could ever give. When you give yourself first, everything else finds its place.

With joy,

Gwen