Receiving Graciously Pt. 2

   Yesterday I started talking about being on the other side of giving-- how to graciously receive. I have broken receiving down into two primary mistakes that we make in doing so. The first of which is taking advantage of those that give, meaning, taking more than appropriate and burdening the giver. We are never supposed to be a burden to others. The second primary mistake people make in receiving is to not receive at all.


    I know many who think they are being "gracious" by not accepting a blessing from someone else. More specifically, when you try to give to someone like Jesus has put on your heart, and they refuse to accept your gift. This is wrong as well. Why would we ever not want to receive a blessing from God? The biggest blockade I see is pride. Pride can become an obstacle to accepting help or gifts from others in your life. To prevent this, we all need to recognize that the design of Jesus' church is that we are interdependent. When we see someone struggling, we do not hesitate in blessing them and helping them as Jesus commanded. And being on the other end of that, it is simply unbiblical to turn away the loving help of another.

Acts 2:42-45 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (NIV)

    When we turn away someone's gift, there are also consequences for them. Not only are we refusing the blessing for ourselves, but we are preventing them of being blessed. The Bible tells us that the giver is blessed more than the receiver. We should accept if only for the one who is giving to us to be blessed. 

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (ESV)

    Lastly, I must remind you that even Jesus accepted the lavish gifts given to Him while here on earth. Think of the example of the woman who poured expensive perfume excessively all over Jesus. His disciples were upset by this action because of the abundance of the gift. They knew it's value. But Jesus had a different perspective. He graciously accepted the gift from the woman, as He did with many others while here on earth. We should follow His example and do the same.

Matthew 26:6-10 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me." (NIV)