Most of us very much enjoy giving when we receive a nice reward. I smile at you and you smile back at me. Win Win! I give you a compliment and you return the favor. You support me and I support you. This is a very nice way to operate and Believers experience this blessing much of the time. There are those times however when a kind word does not receive a kind word in return; a sacrificial gift of time, energy and caring is not returned. We can easily get discouraged. We can feel like our generous acts are offensive and not helpful. We can begin the pull back to avoid the risk of rebuff. The negative responses of others may be learning tools to help us redirect our caring. We need to be willing to change our approach and timing but dear friends … our God is watching and reading our hearts. He is the One who prompts our kindness and caring. He is pleased to see us set aside our own preferences in order to care for another. Always remember it is true: “Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, running over and poured into your lap. The amount you have given will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 8:38 OVG) Our God is pleased with our desire to bless others. When there is no immediate payback—Do the kind deed anyway! God is watching and smiling.
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