Giving
Giving can be a touchy subject among believers, for many reasons. So we’re going to talk about it anyway 🙂
The Bible says, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) This concept may be hard to grasp, since we tend to count the things we receive as blessings. When we give we usually see that as a blessing to others, without even considering that we are blessed in that exchange as well. How? Read more to find out!
It’s important to note that we don't necessarily have to be talking about money when we say “give.” You can be generous with your time, love, affection, care, help, the list goes on.
Before we dive deeper into why we should give, let’s explore the possible reasons why we currently do…
Why do we give?
Here are a few possible reasons
Expectation.
Responsibility / Obligation
Love / Generosity
Gratitude
Now let’s break them down a little bit…
Expectation.
We give because we expect something in return. Whether in the form of a blessing from God, praise / recognition from peers, or simply re-uping on the “good karma”.
Responsibility / Obligation:
We give because it’s the “right thing to do”. We’ve been taught and have grown accustomed to giving our weekly offerings and we know it’s a requirement to be a “good christian”. We know it’s expected of us, so we do it.
Love / Generosity:
We give because we love.
“I love my neighbor, so I’ll prepare them a meal.”
“I love this church, so I’ll give my offerings here.”
“I love God, so I’ll bless others so they can glorify His name.”
We love so we express it with the act of giving generously.
Gratitude:
We give because we’re grateful. Giving to say “Thank you” to God for all He’s done in our life.
“I remember when I didn’t have enough to give, now I do, so I will.”
“Others gave to me when I was in need, now I give to those who need it.”
Why do YOU give?
Regardless of your answer, I’d like to share with you what I learned about the act of giving with a loving heart.
I learned generosity comes from our faith: “...the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”(Philemon 1:6) I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Hurt people, hurt people.” Well, I also believe, “Blessed people, bless people.”
When we start to see and experience God’s abundant love and all the goodness that is now accessible to us, our faith grows and so does our generosity. We realize that we have an unlimited amount of blessings, resources, love, etc., so we aren’t afraid to run out. This allows us to give more freely.
Giving opens doors.
“Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people.” (Proverbs 18:16). When I first read this verse I understood that giving can open doors that lead to important people and opportunities. While this is true, the Holy Spirit revealed to me a different interpretation, “it gives access to important people.” - Important people are granted access - to new people, new levels, and new opportunities. Maybe there are certain doors that can only be unlocked by giving generously. If you have an important calling on your life and you’ve felt stagnant, check your heart posture when you give.
3. Giving plants seeds. Simple. You plant seeds for future blessings when you give with a grateful heart. Blessed are those who have planted seeds all over, for their harvest will be great! (2 Corinthians 9:6)
4. Giving can conquer evil. (Romans 12:20-21) - When you are giving, you are doing good, this is how we can conquer evil.
5. Giving is a beautiful cycle of blessings.
We give → God is praised → The recipient prays for you → God blesses you more → Repeat
(2 Corinthians 9:11-14)
Lastly, If I could offer some advice, here are a few things I’d like you to keep in mind moving forward..
Be careful with your intentions; check your heart posture before you give.
Surrender your need to be praised.
Don’t make it a point to do your good deeds publicly.
I’ve noticed that giving has become very transactional; as if every act of generosity now requires a thank you, a smile, or some form of praise. For example, we do something nice and if we don’t get something in return we immediately rethink our kindness.
In fact, this is so common that my Bible dictionary lists one of the definitions for “gift, gifts” as “a present from people to people (often a bribe)”. Meaning we often give with the intention of influencing someone’s next action or decision in our favor. The reality is we should be giving with the intention of God being glorified, whether we get recognition or not.
We are also directly warned against making a spectacle of our giving. (Matthew 6:1-4) The Bible clearly states that if we purposely call attention to our acts of charity, public admiration will be the only reward we receive. “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)
Overall, remember that giving is an act of love. Whether you give your time, care, or a kind word, let it all stem from a loving heart. Give freely, knowing that we serve a God of infinite abundance and we have access to that abundance as well. When we walk with God, we lack nothing.
