The Blessings of Giving

“I have shown you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

There was a pastor who was preaching in his church. He said, “This church, like the crippled man, has got to get up and walk!” The members shouted, “That’s right. Let’s walk!” “This church,” he continued, “like Elijah on Mount Carmel, has got to run!” “Let it run, preacher!” thundered the people in response. “This church has got to mount on wings like eagles and fly!” And they said, “Let it fly!” But when the preacher said, “If it flies, it takes money” the people shouted, “Let it walk!”

When we think of “blessings”, we usually think in terms of “getting” or “receiving”. Much emphasis is put on “prosperity” by modern church movements and it is the desire of many Christians. The “Full Life Study Bible” mentions, “The measure of blessing and reward we receive will be in proportion to our concern and help given to others.” It is a biblical principle that if we “Give Generously.... Reap Generously.” However, if we “Give Sparingly ...Reap Sparingly.”

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

When we give cheerfully and generously, we are planting a seed and will reap greater blessings. It is truly more blessed to give than to receive, because when you give you will receive again. If we give we will never lack.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)

The Bible teaches us “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Money is not the root of all evil BUT the love of money. However, the Bible also says, “money answereth all things.” (Eccl. 10:19) Some people become trapped in living for money rather than using money to live. Obadiah 1:17 tells us to “Possess our Possessions.” We must be careful not to allow our possessions to possess us. We should love people and use our possessions (material things we acquire) but often we love our material things and use people to achieve the things that we want in life. It seems that people are always looking for ways to get money but money is only useful if you do something (useful) with it.

It has been said, “People will do almost anything for money and money will do almost anything for people.” God is really the one that owns all of our possessions, including money (Exodus 19:5; Psalm 24:1; 50:10-12).

“The silver is mine and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:8)

We just manage the resources that He provides for us. We are His stewards. A “steward” is one who manages, conducts, or directs the business of another.

We, as Christian stewards, exercise our responsibility over all God entrusts into our care including our time and money. A steward, according to 1 Corinthians 4:2, is required to be faithful.

Faithfulness in handling money is necessary if we want God to give us more blessings. The way we spend our money is a true indicator of our priorities and the condition of our heart (Matthew 6:21)

Only when we are faithful will we hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” (Matthew 25:21)

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” (Calvin Coolidge)