The Blessedness of Giving

The Blessedness of Giving                                         December 17, 2023

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Why is this true?

Because it makes us more like our heavenly Father.  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” (James 1:17-18; see also John 3:16-17)

Because it makes us more like Jesus Christ, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28; see also Isaiah 53)

Because it makes us more like the Holy Spirit, who guided the apostles “into all the truth” (John 16:13), “so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (I Corinthians 2:12-13), who “also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

Because it helps us to be less self-centered.  “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:4-5), because love “does not seek its own (interests only)” (I Corinthians 13:5).

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Is that blessedness, our sense of how much we are blessed, and our desire to be a blessing, reflected in our weekly monetary contributions?  Our conversations of concern for others?  Our acts of kindness toward the needy, sick, and hurting?  Our desire and willingness to share the saving gospel of Christ with the lost?  In all, give and be blessed.

By Jeremy Paschall (Adapted)