Yesterday I wrote a post in which I shared how it hurts the heart of a father when his children ignore or shun those in need.

Today I want to talk about what makes a father’s heart happy!

I am never so proud of my children as when they share! A couple of nights ago at Chuck E. Cheese, Reagan gave her tickets to a little girl at the toy counter where you “buy” things with the tickets you have won while playing the games! I was SO proud of Reagan!

I love to watch my children share! I love it when they give up one of their toys to someone else! It especially makes me happy when they share with or include their sister who may not always “get it” as quickly as they do.

When they share or include it makes me say, “That’s the girl I’m proud of!” They gain my delight when they share and include!

OK, so how does this apply to the church?

I’m persuaded that the Father’s heart is happiest when His children give up their “rights” to include others who may not “get it.”

So what does this look like?

It looks like an attitude that says, “It’s not about me.”

• The focus of the church… it’s not about me.

• The attention of the pastor… it’s not about me.

• What the weekend experience looks like… it’s not about me.

• Whether we drink coffee or wear jeans or play loud music… it’s not about me.

Ironically, when we embrace an attitude that says, “It’s not about me” all of a sudden we find that we are experiencing the delight of the Father unlike at any other time in our lives!

When we give up our “rights” and begin sharing and including we put ourselves in a position to receive more than ever before! Crazy? Yes, but it’s true!

It’s kind of like what St. Paul said in Philippians 2:3-11,

Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It was only after Jesus gave up everything that He gained everything, and it is this same spirit that St. Paul calls us to!

So how about it?

What are you willing to give up?

What are you willing to share?

What are you willing to quit fighting over so that others can know the love of God and you can experience the delight of the Father?