Time to Give Back

But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God . . . 1 Kings 5:4-5

In my first few attempts at recovery, I made little effort to help those who struggled as I had. For one thing, I was pretty shaky in my own recovery, not yet committing to a different life. Also, I was paralyzed by my insistence on privacy. In the name of dignity – or pride rather – I remained unwilling to put myself in any position where I had to be open about it. There was no volunteering for jail Bible study. What if people find out? I wanted to keep my struggle a secret and so, I refused to get involved in recovery activities. It’s no surprise then, that my recovery didn’t last very long.

This last time around though, with my addiction becoming public knowledge – not by my choice – I suddenly found the freedom to talk about it. I had honestly committed to a different life, and as God blessed me with a new life, I realized I had to give back. Early on, I began going to jail for a Bible study/recovery meeting and I became willing to talk about my struggles with others who struggled similarly. As God had given to me, it was time to give back. I honestly set out wanting to help others, but I quickly realized that helping others, helped me. Giving back strengthened my own recovery.

As God blesses us, we must give back, by blessing those around us. This is the principle illustrated by King Solomon in today’s passage. In the story, Solomon, and all of Israel, enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity. The king and his people followed God and God blessed them. In their blessing, it was time to give back and so, Solomon committed to building a permanent temple for God. Up to this point, the temple was a portable tent structure. In the conflict and chaos of their reigns, neither King Saul nor King David got around to building a temple. Now, in a time of peace and prosperity, it was time to give back.

Giving back often requires some sacrifice of my time, money, or effort. So, it’s just not natural. The Bible teaches however, that this isn’t really optional. As God has loved me, I am expected to love those he’s put in my life. As God has blessed me, I must bless others. To refuse to share the blessings of my new life, is to be disobedient, which is incompatible with me remaining in the new life. If I enjoy the new life God has given me, then it’s time to give back.