Giving It All

"If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."  1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV)

Giving It All!  I hear that expression in many different perspectives. 

• Giving It All to the sport that one is competing in
• Giving It All to a particular project one is working on
• Giving It All to a relationship that one is dedicated to

Yet, in the sense of our friend Paul in 1 Corinthians, giving it all means giving ALL your possessions to the poor.  Not just what you can afford, not just what you can part with, not even giving everything and leaving you with the bare minimum.  In this case, Paul is referring to giving it ALL - your possessions and possibly your life.  I would think that if a person were to give in that light, that they should gain SOMETHING.  Yet Paul shared without love, they gain NOTHING.

This verse certainly made me think long and hard.  There have been times in my life where I believed I "gave it all".  It could have been in any one of the cases in bullets above - a time where I was competing and "didn't leave anything on the table", or when I worked on a project so hard and long that there was "nothing left to give" or even in a relationship when I believed I did "all that I could do" to make the relationship work.  Did I do all of that for nothing?

What Paul is trying to share, and what makes such great sense, is that when we give it all, without love, the effort results in nothing.  There have been times when I have done something in order to get it off my plate or check it off my list.  Maybe it was something that was expected of me.  Maybe it was something I felt I "had" to do.  When we give in times such as those, performing acts or giving gifts, without any love, becomes of no value - to me or to the gift that was given.

I believe we all agree that when we give with a sense of love, of true love, the giving is made easier.  When we give without boasting, without expecting anything in return, the giving is all the sweeter.  This is hard!  I know many people who say, "I give without expecting anything in return," yet, they do expect something - a thank you, a hug, something?  I, myself have been like that.  Sure, I'm giving out of love, but sometimes I want that thank you.  Was it truly out of unconditional love that I gave?  Certainly, this verse has helped me to reflect on that.

We are human, and by nature, we sin.  I love this verse because it helps me to re-evaluate the act of love and giving.  I certainly don't want to boast about the giving that I do.  I want to be the cheerful giver in ALL circumstances - not just the ones that are convenient for me.  I have much work to do in this arena.  Yet, with God's help - and Paul's reminder - I pray to recognize, love and give.

Heavenly Father, giving with a cheerful heart is one thing - giving with a heart full of unconditional love can be another.  Many times, we may give for all the wrong reasons.  We may give out of something we should do versus something we love to do.  Help us, Jesus, to recognize our giving hearts and may we bring the precious love of you in all that we give.  In your loving name we pray, Amen!