Have you ever thought of what this world would be without giving? Worse yet - what would life be like if heaven ceased to give, as they have every reason to do?
Nearly everything in the entire universe lives with an object of giving all that it is possible to give with no thought of how great or small its position may be... The tiny flower pours out its fragrance with as much enthusiasm and dedication as does the sun.
If only that word "nearly" didn't have to be there... The only dissonant note in this symphony of joyful, unthinking giving is the unconverted heart of man. The way the world looks at it, the only way to be happy is to live for self. What a broken cistern! In seeking for happiness, man is turning his back on the only source of true, lasting happiness and trading it for a fleeting joy that will leave him feeling more empty than before. If only all could see that the only joy worthy of the name comes from giving all...
Imagine a world without giving…
So dreadful, nothing would be living.
No light from the sun would gladden our course...
Ripples surge inwards, and streams to their source.
But of everything dreadful, the worst thought of all –
A heav’n without giving! E’en the thought does appall.
No tender compassion from the Son of our life,
No strength from our Father to overcome strife.
But thanks be to God, we can turn from this sight!
Heavn’s giving and giving with all of its might
To wrest wretched sinners from terrible doom,
Gently easing our burdens and lifting the gloom.
So don’t be like spirals that disappear in,
Give of yourself – you’ll find such joy within!
As a spiral flowing outward forever extends,
The rich joy of giving is a joy without end!
~RK, March 09
3 comments:
What thoughts for contemplation! I love the spiral analogy. It will be wonderful when the whole universe pulsates in unison - in harmony with the joyous Law of Giving. Now is the time to be synchronizing our own hearts...
(Sorry, looks like I'm having trouble with posting this!) ~ So true Rachel! - It is really amazing how the entire universe (with the exception of most of humanity) operates on the principle of giving in order to receive, and then give again. From the most minute atom, to the greatest galaxy; not to mention our spiritual lives and physical wellbeing, all are grounded in a continual "circuit of beneficence"; everything seems to function in one way or another on this principle - giving, receiving, and giving again, in an infinitely repeating circle... I sometimes wonder if Ezekiel's vision about a "wheel within a wheel" (also can be translated "circle within a circle") could have an aspect that relates to this, as the principle seems so interwoven with all creation!
Hmmm.... I've never stopped to consider what it would be like if Heaven stopped giving! How we take things for granted. But I was thinking today during my mid-day time of the joy of service... "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life as a ransom for many." May we learn to be like Him.
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