Imitators of God by Lisa Nagel

Has God given you anything recently? Anything at all? To start with the obvious, what about the breath you just pulled into your lungs? Life is a gift. If you are looking forward to devouring lunch, dinner, or a midnight snack after reading this, remember, food is a gift from God. Every day things that we often take for granted – breath, laughter, a home, annoying younger siblings, a healthy mind and body – all of that is from Him. Thank you doesn’t seem enough anymore, does it?

God wants us to say thank you. He desires to hear, straight from your lips, you acknowledging His wonderful gifts. You can show God your gratefulness too by giving back. Ephesians 5:1 says, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." God is generous; He gives without partiality. We should be generous to others if we are imitators of God. I know what you’re thinking: I don’t have anything to give!

Money is only one way to give back to God. He has blessed you with abundant resources, including time, talents, things, and money. The following list is neither exhaustive, nor in everyone’s ability to do. It is only here to get you thinking!

Giving Back to God:

Your Time
Time is something everyone has. After responsibilities, we make time for the things or people that we truly care about.

1. Do you like working with children? Either alone or with a group of dependable friends, approach a youth leader or deacon in your church. Find out if a church family or single mom needs help with childcare. If it can be arranged around school, commit to baby-sit for free for a certain period of time. Can you commit to a week? A month?
2. Become a teacher’s helper in a younger class. There are always teachers who need an extra pair of hands, in Sunday School, VBS, or children’s church. Get active! Even if you are just available to talk with the little ones, you will be a blessing.

Your Talents
Talents are natural abilities, and they are from God. What better way to give back to our Creator than by sharing our talents to glorify Him?

1. I see that hand! Volunteer your unique abilities. Try your local church, schools, or community programs to find out what is in the works. Do you have a knack for coaching? You could help out in a junior league or Pee-Wee sports team. If music or theatre is your forte, look to get involved in acting, singing or aiding the teacher of a children’s choir.
2. If God has blessed you with artistic talent, there are many venues for giving back. Set design or costume design for a play is a possibility. Missionaries might appreciate a stack of homemade, blank cards to use as thank you notes. Perhaps you could lend your artistic eye to a design-challenged teacher who needs help making posters or pictures for her classroom walls. What are you good at?

Your Things
All of us have things. Some of us have few things; some of us have too many things. What can you give to be a blessing to another and show them a generous heart?

1. Cleaned out your closet lately? Chances are, perfectly good shirts and jeans lurk in the shadows and have not seen the light recently. Grab a box and cleanse. If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. Run the box by your mom first (she may want you to hang on to that embroidered skirt from Grandma), and then double-quick get it to a garage sale or goodwill.
2. Enjoy baking? Whip up a batch of cookies to share with a neighbor, an elderly couple, or someone who is ill. Check out the recipe at the end of the article for a simple chocolate cake with the most basic ingredients. You can’t lose with chocolate.
3. If you receive a regular paycheck, pray about giving God a portion. If money crosses your palm in sporadic bursts or on birthdays, pray about giving a one-time gift.

Whatever you choose to give, think on it, pray about it, give willingly, and give only what belongs to you. God is pleased with a generous heart, one that is excited about giving back to the Giver of life.

To learn more about giving, read through 2nd Corinthians 8 and 9. There you will find in 9:8, 10-11, some of the wonderful results of giving. "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." God will provide for you. This is His promise: He will keep giving you the resources so you can continue doing good works. If you give much, you will be given much. Give from a heart overflowing with thanks!

Lisa currently makes her home in the Appalachian Mountains, where she enjoys taking hikes with her husband and two girls. Lisa loves studying and writing about Bible truth. She reads voraciously, bakes periodically, and cleans sporadically.

Recipe for Simple Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar   
¼ cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon white or cider vinegar
½ teaspoon vanilla   
1 cup cold water

Pre-heat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In small bowl, stir oil, vinegar and vanilla until well mixed. Beat oil mixture and cold water into flour mixture with a spoon about one minute. Pour into pan immediately. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Frost when cool, or leave it plain and eat warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.