Giving And Receiving

It was well past midnight. There were few travelers, and the weather was nearly unbearable with driving rains and freezing temperatures. A woman stood beside her broken-down car, trying to flag down someone going into the city. 

Finally, a motorist stopped and invited the woman, who was soaking wet and trembling with chills, into his car. He took her to a taxi stand, and as she hurriedly exited from his car, she took time to ask him to write down his name and address. 

A week later, he received a giant TV and stereo with a note that read: “Thank you for assisting me. Because of your kindness, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you. Mrs. Nat King Cole.” 

Nearly a thousand years before Jesus was born, Solomon wrote, “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.” In his wisdom, he summarized an essential fact of life for all of us: Life involves risk and opportunity and has no guarantees. 

However, Solomon encouraged us to seize the moment to do good for others. He certainly did not support a stingy, self-centered lifestyle. Even though we do not know what may happen tomorrow, he would urge us to share with others whatever we have “at the moment,” and learn to trust in God for tomorrow.  

We show our love for and trust in God when we give to others. 

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to realize we have so much we do not deserve. May our hearts be as open to meet the needs of others as much as Your heart is open to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Ecclesiastes 11:1

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A Cheerful Giver

A lady said to a beggar, “Here’s a quarter. You don’t deserve it, but it will make me happy to give it to you!”

“Thanks, ma’am,” he said. “Why not make it few dollars and really enjoy yourself?”

Giving is an important theme in the Bible. It begins in the heart of God. We read about the abundant gifts He gave His people. It continues in the work of Jesus as He went about healing the sick and feeding the hungry. We see His supreme gift when He gave His life on the cross: the gift of love, life, liberty and eternity with Him. The gifts of God and His Son are priceless – life giving and life sustaining.

Paul reminds us that we are not to “give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

The Lord has given us two hands: one for receiving and one for giving. The question is not “What can I spare?” but, “What can I share?”

Prayer: Father, without Your love, grace and mercy, we would have nothing. Often we focus on what we have rather than what You have given us. May we realize that we receive to give. When we give, we show Your love: in Christ’s Name. Amen.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

As Big As We Make It!

Herb had been dating Liz for about a year. He was deeply in love with her and finally decided that he would ask her to marry him. So, he went to a jewelry store and used all of his hard earned savings to purchase an engagement ring for her. Unfortunately, the rings were more expensive than he imagined and he had little money to spend and had to settle for one with a small diamond.

One evening he took her to dinner and after they ordered their meal, with a shy, trembling voice he asked, “Liz, will you marry me?”

“Oh yes, of course I will,” said Liz.

With tears in his eyes he presented the ring to her and said, “Liz, I’m sorry, so sorry that the diamond is not as big as I wanted it to be or as large as my love.”

“Oh my,” said Liz, “that doesn’t matter. The diamond is as big as we make it!”

How very true! Value is always in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it?

We often substitute things rather than thoughtfulness or gifts rather than goodness. We even confuse large with lovely or big with beauty. Often we substitute spending time with someone by offering them a present instead of ourselves.

When we give something to someone, especially God, cost doesn’t matter. What we keep for our self does.

Prayer: May we realize, Lord, that giving reflects the sincerity of our heart not the size of the gift. May we show our love more by what we do than what we give. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Living For Others

William Booth, the Founder of the Salvation Army, had a deep love for the Lord and the poor of London. In fact, the Army was founded in the slums of London in a nation that was not very kind to the poor. On one occasion Booth was actually arrested for practicing charity among the poor.

During that era the needs of the poor were great and the times were difficult for all. As a result, his work grew rapidly. He was told that there was a similar need in America and decided to send some “volunteers” from his Army to America to begin their work here.

On one occasion the American Salvation Army was having a convention. Although he could not attend he was asked to send a message to the ones in attendance. He cabled only one word: “Others!”

There is a great danger when we do not think of “Others!” Paul warned about it when he wrote, “Don’t be selfish: don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.”

It is almost impossible to imagine the impact that we Christians could have on the world if we took Paul’s words to heart. Imagine with me, if you can, how different the world would be if we accepted the problems of others as though they were ours.

Prayer: Help me, Father, to accept my responsibility to be moved with compassion and act with charity to meet the needs of others who need hope and help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Giving And Receiving

Little Amy was pleased that her teacher came to visit her farm. Taking her through the barn and out into the pasture, she pointed with pride to a cow that was quietly chewing its cud. 

Filled with pride she said to her teacher, “That’s my cow!”

“Oh, how wonderful, Amy,” she commented. “Does she give milk?”

“Not really,” replied Amy. “We have to take it from her.”

Some Christians are like Amy’s cow – there is good in them but it has to be taken from them. This may be true because of the influence of the world rather than the influence of the Word. 

All of us are encouraged to hold on to whatever we possess as tightly as possible. We are constantly advised to invest our money wisely so that when we advance in age we will have enough to survive.

But the writer of Proverbs says, “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy.” What did he mean?

God always blesses those who give freely of their time, treasures and talents in service to others. When we give we are simply sharing with others what God has given us and providing space for more of His blessings.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to believe in Your Word and trust in Your ways. Open our hearts to share the blessings You have given us with those in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:24-25 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

It's Part Of The Gift

A new convert to Christianity wanted to show his love for his new found Lord. To do so, he brought a beautiful sea shell to the missionary, John Patton, who led him to Jesus. 

“Where did you find such a beautiful prize?” he asked the native. 

“I walked many miles,” he answered, “and I crossed a mountain to the bay on the other side of the island.”

“I’m so very sorry,” said the missionary, “that you had to walk so far to get it.”

“The long walk,” said the native, “is part of the gift.” 

In Mark’s Gospel we read the heart-gripping story of the poor widow who put all that she had – two pennies – in the collection box in the Temple. Jesus had been watching the people as they presented their gifts. He saw the rich as they gave their large gifts as well as the widow. But it was the gift of the widow that touched the heart of Jesus.
So, He called His disciples together and said, “This poor widow has given more than all of the others. For they gave a tiny portion of their surplus, but she, as poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Her gift was the smallest, but in His eyes it was the largest of all.

The value of the gifts we give to the Lord does not depend on the amount; it depends on the spirit in which it is given. If we give grudgingly or to be recognized it cancels the real value of our giving. God is always pleased when we give from a heart that is filled with gratitude for the many gifts He has given us. Much more than the size of our gift, is the depth of appreciation that we have for His mercy and grace that He so willingly gives us.

Prayer: Lord, may we willingly give to You as You so graciously and mercifully give to us, all that we have or ever will have, because of Your unending love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Mark 12:41-44 For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”