A Heart for Giving
Did you get as many emails and text messages as I did for giving on Black Friday, Giving Monday, and Giving Tuesday? I wish that I were such a cheerful giver that I replied with big donations for each one.
I didn’t, but I should have. The season of giving is here. We shop, we wrap, we bake, we give. It’s a most wonderful time to be generous with those we love and those who need a helping hand.
Generosity in scripture is a virtue. Proverbs 21:25 says: “the godly love to give.” Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “Time is money”. The idea that our time has value means that we can be generous with our time in ways that rival finances. That’s what I love about giving my time at the Vincentian Family Center two days a week.
Also, spending time with others – our loved ones, friends and others is priceless. When we realize the value of these moments, we are giving them encouragement, comfort, joy, and love.
Giving of ourselves in service to others, whether by volunteering at church, taking meals to someone in need, helping at work when it’s not our responsibility, or a myriad of other ways, is a gift.
The fact that we would spend hours doing something that benefits others when we could be taking that time for ourselves tells them that they are important and valuable.
Often the giving of time also involves giving our talents. Each of us has been given gifts and abilities by our Creator. We use them to provide for ourselves and family, but we can also use them to bless others. Generosity — what a great word AND act!
“Giving a gift can open doors” (Proverbs 18:16). There are many ways that an act of generosity can create an opportunity for relationship or ministry. I’ve seen someone give a waiter a shockingly large tip, then watched that waiter pour out their family struggles — which equates to time of ministry and prayer that isn’t normally seen in restaurants.
I’ve witnessed someone drive a friend back and forth to M.D. Anderson in Houston for cancer treatments. That led to more opportunities for other neighbors to step in and help during their time of need. The community grew closer and stronger.
It was a joy for us to give to Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, that delivers millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world.
“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)
Paul instructed the early church “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share…” (1 Timothy 6:18). The world needs to feel the impact of God’s people and this can happen when we generously give our time, talent, and treasure.
Generosity also benefits the giver because it unlocks the blessings of heaven. “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). Giving reflects the very character of God. “For God so loved the world, He gave…” There is no better model than that!
Let’s be givers who develop a lifetime habit of giving. We will bless others and receive so much refreshment for ourselves. And, as a side note, scripture says “GIVE and it shall be given you; pressed down shaken together and running over!” (Luke 6:38) I’d say that’s mighty fine payback for being a giver!