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.
Proverbs 15:23
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
Acts 20:35
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.’ ”
This has been a great Easter week for me by both giving to and receiving from others. It makes my heart happy to give and expect nothing in return. God has blessed me faithfully throughout my life and I have never been or gone without. It blesses me in so many ways to pass on what God has abundantly given me. Holidays emphasize us to give, but it should be a regular part of our lives throughout the year. As Acts 20:35 tells us, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive', but many need to work on receiving with grace and gratitude. May we all accept God's gift of salvation.
"Our God is a giving God. He is a God of abundance, and He loves to give. He sacrificed willingly on the cross and then invited us into fullness of life. As His children, we are called to imitate Him. Our generosity in giving is a demonstration of God’s character and a response to what He has done for us. Generosity not only points others to God, it is an appropriate response to what God has done for us. Our response to God’s abundance with us is to share that abundance with others. When we appropriately receive God’s generosity, it humbles us. We recognize that we are not worthy of His gift. Out of gratefulness, we become more gracious with others. We begin to learn the heart of God and want to be more like Him. When we give, we empty ourselves in order to be filled again by God. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38)." [gotquestions.org]
During this Covid-19 pandemic, I have been blessed with surprise gifts, by many different friends, at my door. It reminds me of my 3rd year of college spent at the University of Texas at Arlington. The campus was so large, I had to use my scooter for the first time in my schooling years. The Church of Christ student center allowed me to store my scooter in their facility and park my car in their lot. I was blessed to get to know people there and participate in a bible study with other women. We decided to do a 'secret pal' time of giving during the last semester. It was so fun to put my gifts in my pal's locker cubby and so fun to find gifts in my scooter basket. Gifts weren't big or expensive but sure brought a smile. Gifts ranged from a candy bar, to a card, to flowers, to a stuffed animal, to a short note, and more. It doesn't take much to be a light of Christ to someone and make their day a little more special. It sure made a good and lasting memory in my life.
Matthew 5:15-16 "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
