The Gift of Giving

If you are like most children, you love to receive gifts. It feels really good to get a new book, bicycle, or basketball. We must understand, however, that in order to receive gifts, there must be someone who gives them. Jesus taught: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Why is it better that we give? After all, receiving gifts is so much fun.

Christian giving is a sign of happiness. The fact is, the more you give, the happier you will be. God rewards men who give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who earn money should examine their money, and determine how much they should return to the Lord. Paul taught the Christians at Corinth that they were to give of their means on the first day of every week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), just as he instructed the Galatian churches. Giving is a sacrificial part of our worship.

A good giver first realizes that he is very blessed—with a way to earn money, to have good health, life, and so much more. Second, he realizes that all of his blessings come from God (James 1:17). Finally, a good giver realizes the importance of giving his money to help in the work of the church. The contribution helps to support preachers and missionaries who spread the Gospel. It helps those in serious need. When a man thinks on all of the good that comes from his giving, he can be the cheerful giver that God desires him to be.

God does not command us to give an exact amount. Instead, God gives each of us the choice to decide how much we should give. In Mark 12, Jesus watched people as they put money in the treasury. Some rich people put in much money, but this did not impress Jesus. A widow came by and threw in two copper coins. Jesus called His disciples together, and said that the widow had put in the most, because she gave all that she had. The widow was an excellent giver. She gave with an abundance of joy—just as God commands. When we give cheerfully, we can know that God will one day reward us with cheerfulness—and that's worth more than all of the money in the world.

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