“Freely Received, Freely Give”
Matthew 10:1-23
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” - Matthew 10:7-8
The King’s Delegation [“The King’s Couriers” – Ironside], to these Jesus said: “Freely you have received, freely give.”
This was a verse that impacted me early in my Christian life. I was not brought up in the church, and I did not have a great outlook on the church in my earlier years. It was mostly on me, however, because I did not really try to find a good church. I was more into finding excuses.
I started attending Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara in my early twenty’s and it was the first time that I started learning the Bible, which was exciting. It was monumental for me, and what set the course for me becoming a Pastor.
But one of the things I noticed right away at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara was that they did not ask for money. Even when they received the offerings they would say, “This time is for those of us who have called this church our home; if you are a visitor, please allow the basket to pass.” I was a bit shocked to tell you the truth! And then I saw how they gave so much to others in the community I started to think, wow, yes, this is what giving is all about: “Freely you have received, freely give.”
And then I started to learn that that was not an isolated case, that the principle of giving came from our founder, Pastor Chuck Smith, at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. I witnessed the same giving at the larger Calvary Chapel events, and when I started pastoring, especially at the Pastor’s Conferences. I will never forget how Pastor Chuck at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa gave so much of himself and his resources to blessing us younger pastors getting started. He showed us what it meant “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Pastor Chuck Smith lived out the principle that Jesus highlighted in this second discourse in Matthew. Jesus described the mission and call for disciples until His return. They are to preach, teach, and minister to the needs of people. It was the ministry that Jesus did, and He would now impart His authority to others to do the same. This is perhaps the most radical miracle of all.
The King has authority to delegate authority to others, and the character of that authority is giving. “Freely you have received, freely give.” Grace giving is a great difference. It is the difference between a disciple and a hireling.
While “the laborer [of the Kingdom] is worthy of his wages” [Lk 10:7], he does not labor because of wages. He has received so much from His Lord that he cannot help but give. That is a precious mark of a follower of Christ.
