The Bible clearly states, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
As Paul planned to sail to Jerusalem, he met with the elders of the church at Ephesus, saying farewell and encouraging them in their work in the Lord. He reminded them of his labor among them over a three year period and called on them to give their labor as well. “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’ ” (Acts 20:35).
Why is it more blessed to give than to receive?
Knowing the whys often helps us follow through with the whats.
First, giving and blessing are gifts which come directly from God. God is a giver. When we give we are being like Him. Therefore as we give for the needs of others, we are blessed to serve and provide in the same way we receive from our Lord.
Second, when we give, we open the door to more blessings from God.
Like all parents, God wants to see His children being kind, generous, and loving. When He finds us doing those things, He encourages us to do more of those things by blessing us as we do them.
Third, when we give, we experience a unique closeness with God that can only come to us as we are generous and kind to others. As we give we open the door to that wonderful closeness with Him.
Finally, our giving means we have already been blessed. We don’t have to be the recipient who needs; we can be the blessed who is able to give.
After the Vietnam War, a small city wanted to place a memorial in the city center. Solicitors went door to door asking for donations. At one house, the volunteer asking for contributions told a husband and wife of a family down the street who gave $5,000 in memory of their son killed in Vietnam.
The wife squeezed her husband’s hand and said, “Let’s give $5,000 as well.” The husband replied: “But we didn’t have a son killed in the war.” She then looked at him and said: “Let’s give because we didn’t lose our son.”
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Each day I write a devotional for the growth of the followers of Christ. If you would like to receive this free service, please subscribe at waylonbailey.com
4 Responses
Bro. Waylon, that was a great and timely post. Incidentally, I heard a pastor give the other side of the coin. He was a very generous man who was always giving to others. He said that a man walked up to him and said: “The Lord told me to give you this.” The pastor replied: “I can’t take it. You need it much worse than I do.” The man said: “Do you believe the scripture: It is more blessed to give than receive?” The pastor responded: “Yes, and I try to live my life reflecting that.” So the man said: “Then why are you trying to rob me of my blessing.” The pastor then said he smiled sheepishly and said “thank you” as he took the money. Knowing that pastor, I am sure the money did not stay in his pocket very long before it was being used to help someone else who needed it.
a very applicable illustration of what Jesus meant.
I never really knew the WHY of giving, I give because I am blessed, never thought it would open the door more blessings. Interesting thought. I heard a pastor tell the story of man who was a guest preacher at a church, when the preacher and his son entered the church, the pastor put $10 in the poor box. After he spoke, a deacon at the church said, “we don’t have much, but we can give you the contents of the poor box.” The pastor received his lone $10. His son saw what happened and said, “Dad, if you had given more, you would have received more.”
I love that story. You have to think of what the son said to get the full significance. It is always true that the one who gives receives.