GIVE

Principle 8: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.  “Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” (Matthew 5:10)

Step 12: Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.  “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Think About It

“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

What does it mean to GIVE?

God first  –  by placing God first in your life, you will realize that everything you have is a gift from Him. You realize that your recovery is not dependent on material things. It is built upon you faith and your desire to follow Jesus Christ’s direction.  “He did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son – will he not also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, GNB)

“You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around.” (Matthew 6:24, TLB)

I becomes we  – the 12 Steps does not begin with the word “I.” The first word in Step 1 is “we.” The road to recovery is not meant to be traveled alone.  “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.” This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone…there is no one there to help him…Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, GNB)

Victories shared  –  God never wastes a hurt! Principle 8 gives us the opportunity to share our experience and victories. “This is how it was for me…” “This is what happened to me…” “This is how I gained the strength…” “There’s hope for you.”

“Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, and the God from whom all help comes! He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help those who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, GNB)

Example of your actions  –  in James 1:22 it says we are to be “doers of the word.” But to be of help to another, we are to “carry the message in all our affairs.”  You have all heard the term “Sunday Christians.” Let us not become just “Friday night recovery buffs.”

“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18, GNB)

The Lord spreads His message through the eight principles and the Christ-centered 12 Steps. We are the instruments the Good News. The way we live will confirm to others the sincerity of our commitment to our Lord, to the program, and to them! That’s Principle 8.

“No one light a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way…We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything our into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers…Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” (Luke 8:16-18, MSG)