Give Unto Others
by Brandy Webb
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In the past, when I thought about giving, I always thought financial giving, like tithes and offerings. Yet, I am now realizing that there are far more ways to give that can be even more beneficial to the receiver than money. It is easy to just give money if you have some to spare. However, there are a lot of us that don’t have the finances to have extra spare change lying around to give away. Therefore, we must find other ways to give.
Giving can be just giving up some of our time to talk to someone that is lonely, or visiting the sick, or the widow. Another way to give is to give away things we don’t need to someone who can actually use it.
My grandmother’s church gives away prayer quilts to those who are sick. There are a group of ladies at her church that know how to quilt, and when they find out someone is ill, they get together to quilt a blanket for the person and pray for them, also. I know people who have received one of their prayer quilts, and it means so much to them to know that others are praying for their healing.
I don’t know how to quilt or sew, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find another way to reach out to others. An easy way is sending out a card or a note. Or just picking up a phone and giving someone a call to just say “Hi.” Another giving idea, for those of us who garden, is to share our produce. The truth is, there are probably multiple opportunities around us for giving.
There is one major requirement that we have to do in order to become a cheerful giver. We must rid ourselves of selfishness and greed. Remember, a slacker greedily covets “all the day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back” (Prov 21:25-26). We are striving for righteousness, right?
Becoming a giver is a powerful way to combat against our carnal flesh. And, to me, the statement, “Giving is the gift that keeps on giving,” is true because your giving not only makes the person you are giving to feel good, but also brings joy to your own heart.
This talent is also a way for us to walk in God’s light, for He is the ultimate giver. He loves us so much “that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him wouldn’t perish, but would have eternal life” (John 3:16). Therefore, every one of us should give as we are able “according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you” (Deut 16:17).