WANTED: Grace-givers

Grace-giving is not natural.  It goes against the culture.  Grace-giving is not about me.  It's about God and others.  Instead of focusing on what "I" need or want, it focuses on the needs of others and God's will.  Grace-giving has to be regularly exercised so it becomes part of our normal life rhythm.  It isn't something that comes naturally.  

Grace-giving doesn't get it's way.  It is self-less.  Jesus is the ultimate example of grace-giving.  He didn't get His way.  His life mission and purpose was about God's way and extending grace to undeserving, flawed and imperfect creatures like us.  Grace-giving isn't about turning a blind eye to the dark side of humanity, e.g., sin, control, anger, sarcasm, addictions, prejudice, etc.  It responds to the deepest human need, to be loved without condition.  It doesn't avoid the truth, but speaks truth in love.  Grace-giving also lets individuals be responsible for their actions, instead of trying to "fix" them, or "make them" do what is right.  

After 24 years of pastoral ministry I continue to be amazed at the number of people who proudly state they have received the grace of God in Christ, but are so unwilling to extend it to others.  Examples?

• Competition for spiritual recognition among other Christ-followers
• Sarcasm veiled as harmless jokes/teasing
• Promoting a personal agenda without ever considering God's will, or others
• Gossip, innuendo and repeating half-truths
• Treating perception as truth instead of seeking the truth
• Preoccupation with how we/something looks, instead of reality
• Demanding contrition, or punishment of those who've wronged us, or someone we love
• Exercising pride and arrogance instead of humility (can't be wrong/never accept responsibility)
• Limited acceptance of those who are different
• Hiding/denying our own struggles and sins 

Grace-giving begins with the daily awareness that we are ALL sinners in desperate need of God's grace.  We are like the second man in Jesus' contrasting story of two men praying in Luke 18:

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

  

Spiritual arrogance, pride and contempt are dangerous enemies of the body of Christ.  They stifle the growth and disbursement of grace.  Every Christ-follower has been given extraordinary freedom and to whom much is given much is required!  In Romans 13, Paul says we owe the debt of love.  And when God in Christ has done so much for us, how can we not reciprocate with the same love for others?  We begin by loving God and as a result we can't help, but love others.  Maybe some are like Welton Gaddy said, "They love/admire God, but they are not IN love with Him."