The Gift of Giving

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving. We talked about being thankful for all our blessings.

This week we want to talk about giving. Generosity. Thankfulness and giving are two sides of the same coin. Being thankful for our blessings keeps us from taking life for granted. Giving generously expresses the genuine nature of God.

For God so loved the world that He GAVE…. (John 3:16). In that context, He is like Hallmark Cards for those who care enough to give the very best. We are never more like Jesus than when we give.

The Bible tells us: “Freely you have received. Freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Watchman Nee said that whenever he needed a pencil, he bought five and gave four away. He said it reminded him that it is more blessed to give than to receive. But in order to give something away, we must first receive it.

His divine power HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he HAS GIVEN US HIS VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV).

Everything we will ever need has been given to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is our Life. Our All-in-All. He is our everything. Once we receive Him, then we give away our life (His life) because He is a never-ending supply. He never runs out of what we need. We can give and give and give and always have more to give. We received it all from Him, and now we can give it all away and not be the less for having done so.

Now we are not talking necessarily about material things although it can be. For example, I have a precious couple in our church who love Frappuccino. I pick some up when I’m in Costco and drop it by their house. Generous people just know what blesses others and are delighted to bring joy and delight to those they love.

Your gift may be a word of encouragement, or a card, or a back rub for your Sweetie, or lifting a case of bottled water for a lady struggling in the parking lot just to get it out of her cart. It’s not what you give, but the thought and intent behind it.

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity” (Luke 6:37 MSG).

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Until next time…

Blessings,

Kenny