Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35 (NKJV)

 

Jesus gives us a wonderful revelation about giving through the Apostle Paul.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" is a command with a promise.

The giver is more blessed than the receiver because God's grace empowers us to serve others. Do not give just to receive blessings in return. That is the wrong reason to give. We have already been blessed with everything in Christ. We give in response to the revelation of Jesus that will help us learn and experience our richness through His grace.

Giving in obedience to God instead of compulsion from others results in pure joy and freedom. When we learn to demonstrate God's love and compassion, He gives us the ability to give despite our constraints. It is not the size of the gift, but rather the love that comes with the gift that matters. Without love, what we give is worth nothing.

As sons and daughters of God, we do not need to ask, “Should we give?” We know we should give. Rather, we should ask, “How should we give?” This opens us to experience God’s gracious supply for us to sow bountifully and cheerfully.

We give not just to meet needs, but also to raise awareness of the presence and power of God's gospel in the lives and communities where darkness and poverty exist. Giving is both missional and liberational in this sense, as it frees people from not only physical but also emotional and spiritual needs.