Giving and Taking

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:1-5 ESV). How do you think the Disciples felt? Their Savior, the one who had made the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead come to life, was carefully washing their ugly, dirty, rough, callused feet. Were they humbled by his presence, embarrassed by his touch, inspired by his service, or moved by his love? The emotions must have been overwhelming. Through this simple act of kindness and generosity, Jesus is teaching two important lessons. 1. First, Jesus teaches that we are to nurture one another through service toward one another. He says, “If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” God commands us to serve even the least of these, the hungry, the hurting, the poor, and the unlovable. We are to overcome our pride and selfishness and serve others. 2. Secondly, Jesus is teaching us to be gracious and thankful recipients of, not only Gods’ blessings, but also of the acts of kindness bestowed upon us by others. Stop and notice the random and intentional acts of kindness you receive from others. Accept these acts as gifts from God. He intentionally gives us friends, family, a church and a community so that we may care for and nurture one another. God intends that we sometimes be the givers; sometimes we are to be the takers. There is a time for both in our lives. It is a great tragedy is when we become so self-centered that we do not give to others. However, we also need to learn to receive from others. In Tennessee Williams' play "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof," the redemptive power of patient love wins. In the play, Brock, the son, tries to escape all his problems with himself, his wife, his father and his work with alcohol. The father, Big Daddy, in his rough profane way is deeply concerned for his son. Big Daddy pursues his son through every kind of evasion and rationalization, trying to break through to him. Nothing the son says is sufficient to turn the father away. He could easily have avoided the pain by abandoning his sick son. Instead, he hammers at the door of Brock's life with a love that is willing to accept every rejection that his son can offer. Finally his love and patients breaks through to his son and Brock is restored to life with his family and his work. That's the kind of love that God has for us. A love that never quits, breaking down our barriers, wooing us gently, patiently, with long suffering, urging us to trust Him. Receive that love today so that you can be the giver of it to others.