It is better to receive than to give. No, I did not mistype that. I do understand the point of the more common arrangement of these words. And when it comes to how we deal with our neighbors, that arrangement of these words is dead on in many respects.
But not so when it comes to our dealings with God. When it comes to God it is far better to receive than to give. So many Christians spend their whole life trying to give God things. They think the faith is primarily and ultimately about giving God their worship, their lives, and their everything else.   Those who live their lives with this understanding are often quickly burned out. For the only things we truly have to offer to God are the things he first gives to us. And if we think our faith is all about giving, or that giving is the better part of our faith, we will soon be empty.
No at the heart of our faith is receiving from God, not giving to him. I know this well not only from scripture, but also through experience. I by virtue of my call as a pastor am in the giving business. On Sunday, by Christ’s authority and by his ordering of his Church, I give out the forgiveness of sins.  I give out the promises of God contained in his words. I give out the body and blood of Christ. And while there is certainly joy in doing this giving, I cannot tell you how I treasure the time I get to spend in the pew when the pastors in my circuit gather for worship. I cannot tell you what joy I receive when a friend calls or stops by to encourage me with the promises of our God. I cannot explain how blessed it is to receive forgiveness for my sins from my wife or children or any fellow Christian. Yes it is better to receive than to give.
I know when some of you come to church you think you come to give. To give God worship and to use all of your possible talents there at church. But I would challenge you to understand that the main reason you should come into God’s house is not to give but to receive. If you will simply receive what God offers, the giving God desires will come quite naturally. So when you get to worship, sit back and let God serve you. Soak in his forgiveness. Receive his Word with joy. Take and eat. Take and drink. Yes, it is better to receive than to give.
It only makes sense that those that have much give to those who have little.  God has plenty to give. He has life and salvation to give to you in Christ Jesus. In and of yourself, you have little. Filthy rags of righteousness and an impure heart. Let God, who has so much, give to you his gifts. That is what our faith is all about. God giving. God giving life in the beginning. And when that life has been suffocated by sin, God giving his Son to die our death so that he could give us his life. And when he ascended to heaven, God giving his church gifted with his word and his sacraments that all might have life.
It is better to receive than to give.
