A THREE-FOLD VIEW ... of the art of giving
(JOHN 4:7; MATTHEW 25:8; 14:16)
The entire theme of the Bible may be expressed as God giving
to man. The story of Bethlehem tells how God gave His Son to the
world. The Gospels describe how Christ gave His message to the
world. The resurrection tells how God provided hope and salvation
for the world. God always did the giving; sinners were the recipients.
Yet, as we examine the Scriptures more closely, it becomes evident
that sometimes the order was reversed.
"Give me" (John 4:7) ... a disturbing surprise
When the Lord made His special journey to Sychar's well, He
knew He was about to meet one of the most infamous women in
the city. Her moral virtues had disappeared, her presence was most
undesirable, and even the normal chore of drawing water had to
be done when other people were absent. To be caught in her presence
invited gossip of the worst kind, and yet Jesus made a special effort
to meet with her. His request for a drink occasioned surprise and
led to one of the greatest of His accomplishments. She replied, "How
is that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of me, which am a woman
of Samaria?" He answered: "If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink: thou wouldest have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (John
4:9- 1 0). It appears to be strange that Christ should ask for a drink!
Had He so desired, He could have given a command, and every
drop of water in the well would have risen to quench His thirst.
Was Jesus truly dependent upon the Samaritan? He had neither
bucket nor rope, but the Lord of heaven would hardly have been
helpless. He was trying to teach her - and us - that when we give
to Him, He rewards us immeasurably. She gave water to Jesus; He
gave a well to her.
"Give us " (Matthew 25:8) ... a desperate situation
When the Savior spoke about the ten virgins, He enunciated truths
of superlative worth. The disciples had asked about His return to
earth, and consequently Jesus began to describe ten virgins who went
forth to meet a bridegroom. Alas, five were wise and five were
foolish. "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil
with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. "
The lamps used in those days were very small, and it was necessary
to carry a flask or receptacle of some kind, which hung from a belt
around the waist. When the bridegroom arrived unexpectedly, the
ten young women arose hastily and, lighting their lamps, went forth
to meet him. Within moments five lamps began to go out, and the
virgins said to their companions, "Give us of your oil; for our lamps
are gone out" (Matt. 25:3-8). Unfortunately, the wise virgins had
no oil to spare, and the five foolish women lost their chance to attend
the wedding. The picture that Christ presented revealed two things
(1) The loss of the foolish virgins. (2) The bankruptcy of their
companions. That they were able to enter with the bridegroom was
a cause for rejoicing; but, had they remained awake, each one might
have been a benefactor to her friend. It is necessary to remember
that Jesus was describing conditions to precede His return. The need
of the world would never be met unless the church - the wise ones
- were in a position to respond when others asked for assistance.
"Give ... them " (Matthew 14:16) ... a difficult suggestion
The account that describes how Jesus fed five thousand men in
addition to the women and children who accompanied them is
probably one of the most exciting stories in the New Testament.
It provides a reminder of the astonishing fact that the Savior was
never anxious when an unexpected crisis arose. It was unbelievable
that the Master should say, "Give ye them to eat." He was surely
aware that the disciples had no spare supplies of food. They were
speechless when He took five loaves and two fishes and performed
a miracle. Did they understand that He was trying to teach them
a great lesson? They could and would meet tremendous needs, but
only after they had received supplies from His outstretched hand.
Christ's words spoken to the Samaritan woman may be
summarized as "How Unique. " His story of the ten virgins may
be expressed as "How Urgent. " The lessons taught in the account
of the feeding of the multitude may be described "How
Unmistakable. " Together they emphasize that what is given to Jesus
is returned a thousandfold. Neither minister nor church can
effectively meet the need of a dying world unless the Bread of Life
is first received from the hand of the Savior. "Give, and it shall
be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over" (Luke 6:38).
