Blessed to Give
In the 20th chapter of Acts, Paul writes, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” That quote from Jesus reminds me of a phrase from the Old Testament found in Proverbs 11:25 with a similar theme: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Both verses speak of giving and sharing.
The late Billy Graham reportedly once said, “I never saw a U-Haul behind a hearse.” Or to paraphrase, you cannot take it with you. As a child of God and a steward of the “stuff” that He has allowed me to oversee, I have choices about how I will use those things that He has entrusted to my care. It seems to me that we all have at least three broad range options on what to do with our resources. We can spend everything for our own comfort and gratification. We can hoard our resources, as in Luke 12:18 NKJV – “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.” Or we can experience the blessing that comes from generously giving and sharing from the bounty that God has provided for us.
During my lifetime, I have lived into all three options. There was a time when I had to have the newest, the biggest and the best I could afford. Later, after satisfying most of my creature comfort wants, came my season of hoarding. Then about 40 years ago, I finally came to understand that EVERYTHING belongs to God and that, for a time and a season, He is trusting me with the oversight of some of “His stuff” with the responsibility to give and share. I sincerely believe that God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing,” apply to us today. I have found that when I share the blessings that God has given me, I am always blessed and refreshed.
A PRAYER:
O Holy and generous God, I give thanks to you for the gifts you have given me -my life, my family, my friends – time, talents, and possessions. All that I have comes from you. Help me to remember this and rejoice in your goodness as I share your blessings with others. Amen.
