Giving
The Key to Everything
But the Key isn't simply to give in an abstract way or with no motivating reason. Nor is the Key Utilized by means of a secret formula of words or in magic actions of social magnanimity or through intellectual brilliance. Rather, learning and applying the Key to Everything involves the growing of a heart attitude in giving, which gives the right thing at the right time in the right way and for the right reasons. Such giving takes many forms.
• There are times to give up, not in resignation or in abandonment to despair, but in a surrender of self-righteousness.
• There are times to forgive, that is, to release what otherwise could be retained as a grudge, as anger, as pain or as internalized stress because of perceived or real injustices.
• There are times to give over, to place into the hands of the Creator-Judge of the universe matters which only His might or His justice can sufficiently handle.
• There are times to give to, providing with generosity in assisting the circumstance of another human being or group.
• There are times to give in through simple obedience because the only wise God has shown principles and patterns for giving as a discipline, intending by these to release us from a self-centered, survival mind-set or from our all-too-human self-protecting fear of want or poverty.
• There are times to give wisely because we understand reciprocal laws of God which promise a bountiful return if we give. And that return is His way of making possible our learning to give over and over again with increasing resources and joyfulness.
In short, the Key to Everything involves giving everything but never in the way we most fear. For our fears have taught us that to give anything is to be left with less, and to give everything is to be left with nothing. But this deep affliction — the tendency of the human soul to knot with spasms of clutching, cloying self-protectiveness — is a soul-sickness directly related to mankind's separation from God (more on this in chapter 8). Once a genuine rebirth of the human spirit occurs, the seeds of a possible restoration of full freedom are sown.
-Jack Hayford. The Key to Everything. (Lake Mary, Florida: Charisma House, 1993), 17-19
The root of the english word “forgive” is the Latin word “perdonare,” meaning “to give completely, without reservation.” (That “perdonare” is also the source of our English “pardon.”) - http://www.word-detective.com/2007/12/forgive/
The Greek word for “forgive” is "aphiemi," meaning “to let go, let alone, let be, give up a debt, forgive, to remit, to give up, keep no longer.” - http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=863
Luke 6:37–38 (ESV)
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged [give mercy (James 2:13)];
condemn not, and you will not be condemned [give grace (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5, Jude 1:4, John 3:18, Romans 8:1)];
forgive, and you will be forgiven [give forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15, 18:21-22)];
38 give [see below], and it will be given to you.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it [mercy, grace, forgiveness, giving to God and the needs of others] will be measured back to you.”