Gen 44:18-21,223b-29,45:1-5 Matthew 10:7-15

Freely you have received, freely give.

God has given to us in various ways. We compare ourselves with others’ attractiveness, wealth and abilities. We take credit for these things and attribute them to our own merit. Treating God’s gifts as our own property. The sense of independence and self-sufficiency grows.

Jesus promises us care and protection, relying on Jesus is enough, but it doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing. We are also to assume responsibilities for His sake, for Him and in union with Him. If we don’t make the connection between our gifts and God, we won’t see His glory and greatness, we won’t recognise in them His love, and successes will not become an opportunity of a relationship of dialogue with God. Thinking in a self-sufficient way wounds God. Such an attitude evokes pretensions toward Him, and also toward others. Then its difficult to ‘freely giver’.

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the riches I have received from You. I may not have silver or gold, but I have plenty of other gifts. So seldom do I share, and so often do I reach out to take. I want to change that. Amen.