This final value (of four) is essential because all three previous values can keep ME as the
focus whereas this value helps me shift from the temptation of making it about me and draws
the focus onto Jesus.

When we intentionally begin to give away what Jesus has given us, we are actually saying that
we are not just helpless and needy individuals of the Kingdom but participants with Jesus in his
mission.

For example, if I do something for my daughter, she is very grateful but if we did something
together that she helps me to create; her confidence, our relationship and her sense of
responsibility for what she has received is so much greater.

As human beings our default setting is that we think ‘give it away’ means proving, earning or
paying back what he has done for us. So we either burn out quickly or never step up. But look at
the encounter with Jesus and the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-20. The rich young ruler says ‘I
have kept all these from a young age’. Showing that he thinks ‘doing’ is fixing yourself, keeping
something or earning.

How does Jesus respond? He looked at him and loved him. Jesus loved him even though he
had his motives all wrong. Then Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow him. So Jesus’
challenge is not to do more but to give away and do less? Why? Because Jesus was saying as
you go out and give it away you learn that following Jesus is about receiving. The only way we
learn how to receive is when we give it away. ‘If the seed does not die, the tree cannot grow’ (John 12:24).

Give it away might be money and time, these we must use discernment for. But giving away
definitely means aiming to be like Jesus in every place and space in how we listen, forgive,
respond and bless.

So how do we know how to stop ourselves from trying to give away to earn? The more we encounter the love of Jesus and his personal intimacy, the more we will naturally want to respond with giving. Look at Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. He never once told her to go and tell anyone about Himself, yet she just instinctively left her bucket and evangelized the whole city. Jesus spent the whole encounter talking about who she was
and who He is and how he wants to transform her life. Our responsibility is to BE with Jesus and get to know his love for us and then the fruit will be a natural desire to go and give it away. It will still be hard, costly, tiring and nervy to go and give but you will give not to prove, earn or get; you will give it away because of how much you know you got and it would be selfish to keep it to yourself.

John Wesley said: ‘Light yourself on fire with passion for Jesus and people will come and watch you burn’

1. Know what Jesus thinks of you, pursue him with everything you have, receive more
and more of what he has for you and then some more. Live in his unforced rhythm of
grace, mercy and compassion.

2. Then, while you doing this, there will be a natural overflow of giving away that is
general:
– Giving Jesus away in how you respond, forgive and encourage people
– Giving Jesus away in how you commit to community
– Giving Jesus away in how you spend your personal time alone
– Giving Jesus away in what you fill your mind with
– Giving Jesus away with your tithe and a portion of your time (giving to the poor, praying for the sick, discipling others) (We should all be reaching for these at all times )

3. Then, on top of this, there will be a giving away that is specific:
– Giving Jesus away to a certain community or culture
– Giving Jesus away to a specific place on mission
– Giving Jesus away in a calling either pastoral, evangelism, missionary, financial giver
(These need to be tested and discerned)

God Bless,
David Skevington