Is giving always good and taking always bad? Is taking ever good? - Taking - TouchPoints

Is giving always good and taking always bad? Is taking ever good?

Ezekiel 23:30You brought all this on yourself by prostituting yourself to other nations, defiling yourself with all their idols.

Jonah 1:10-12Then he told them that he was running away from the Lord. The sailors were terrified when they heard this. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?” “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. For I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

Taking is good when we take responsibility for our sins. Accepting responsibility is the first step toward receiving forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:17And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.

Colossians 4:5Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.

Ephesians 5:16Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.

2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.

Taking is good when we take responsibility for our actions. We cannot correct a mistake if we refuse to admit we’ve made a mistake.

Acts 13:13-16Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.” So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

After the usual readings from the books of Moses and from the Prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for us, come and give it!” So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “People of Israel,” he said, “and you devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel, listen to me.”

Acts 17:1-4Now Paul and Silas traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he interpreted the Scriptures to the people. He was explaining and proving the prophecies about the sufferings of the Messiah and his rising from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”

Luke 24:47With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.’

Acts 22:15For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.

Taking is good when we take every opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with others.

Numbers 13:30But Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

Numbers 33:53Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy.

Deuteronomy 10:11But the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and lead the people into the land I swore to give their ancestors, so they may take possession of it.’

Deuteronomy 31:3But the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua is your new leader, and he will go with you, just as the Lord promised.

Joshua 1:11“Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God has given you.

Joshua 11:23So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

Joshua 18:3Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?

Judges 2:6After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.

Nehemiah 9:24“They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased.

They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the kings and the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with them as they pleased.

Jeremiah 29:11“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Taking is good when we take the gifts and opportunities God presents to us. Only then can we be the people God wants usto be, using the gifts and abilities God wants us to use.

Ephesians 2:8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

Matthew 3:44

Matthew 6:21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

The life Christ offers is a gift freely offered, but if we refuse to take it, we will never experience its riches. Like the parable of the hidden treasure, we may need to give something up to receive our gift. A hand that clings to a piece of trash cannot open to receive a treasure.

Matthew 23:4They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

Matthew 11:28-30Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Jesus already took for himself the great load of our sins—a load we could never bear. But when we accept Jesus’ offer to become his disciples, this requires taking a certain burden of responsibility, a commitment to becoming more like him. This burden requires effort, but it is not meant to be unpleasant.  Jesus doesn’t pile on requirements and rules to trip us up like the Pharisees did for their followers. Instead, Jesus walks alongside us, showing us how to carry the load, lifting us when we fall, and encouraging us all the way. Instead of fearing or worrying if we we are good enough, we can find rest in him, rejoicing as we grow more like our teacher.

Matthew 16:24-25Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [25] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Luke 9:23Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Matthew 10:38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

John 16:33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Hebrews 4:14-16So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The cross was a terrible burden to take, but Jesus took it upon himself. In the same way, we are called to take up our own crosses. Each of us will face difficult choices in our lives where following Christ’s path leads to pain and struggle. But we do not take this path alone. Jesus knows the struggles we experience, and he comforts us and strengthens us in our need. Just as Jesus exchanged his cross for a crown, we also will receive a great reward in heaven for our faithfulness.