Neal Pollard
- Are you sure to take credit for works that are done or do you seek to give credit for them?
- Are you more apt to take others’ time or to give your time to others?
- Do you take joy from others or give it to them?
- Are you quicker to take the attention or to give it?
- Would others better know you as a taker of happiness or as a giver of it?
- Is your reputation as one who takes others’ help or who gives yourself to help others?
- Are you prone to take advantage of someone or give an advantage to someone?
- As you take God’s blessings, do you give yourself as a blessing to others?
- Would you be better known as a taker or giver of encouragement?
There are surely more contrasts along these lines, but consider this regarding them all. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35b). Much of this is a matter of selfishness or unselfishness. As unappealing as the prospect is, each of us does well to look closer at which we are. We may grab a temporary spotlight, get a short-term advantage, or have the fleeting praise of men, even while taking, but the Lord’s view is different. He says of takers, “They have their reward in full” (Mat. 6:2,5,16). How much better to give (cf. Lk. 6:38)!
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