Humans have a tendency to be selfish. For many of us, it might not feel “natural” to go out of our way to give. But as Christians, giving is something we should enjoy and be good at!
2 Corinthians (9:7, NIV) says that “…God loves a cheerful giver,” so that’s reason enough to work on this important quality!
When we think of the perfect gift-giver, our minds go to God. James (1:17, NIV) reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God gave us a beautiful earth and a variety of foods to support healthy lives. He also gave our bodies the ability to heal if we get hurt. We can be inspired to give by how God gives to us.
Having a giving spirit doesn’t always involve physical items. We can also give of our time and talents. Do your parents need help around the house or outside with yard work? Is there someone in your class struggling with an assignment? Offer to help so they can succeed too!
When we give, we honor others. The wise men gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus to honor him – perfect gifts for the future king! In our case, making a card or craft for someone who is having a hard experience is a great way to honor them and show our love and support.
Jesus had a servant’s heart – he freely gave of his time and talents. When he healed, it cost him strength and energy. If we don’t feel like giving, let’s think of how Jesus constantly gave of himself to others and try to follow his example. In Matthew, (see 25:40) Jesus explains that when we do good things for others, it’s the same as doing it for him – that’s another reason to give!
It’s easy to give to people we love, but what about those who are unkind to us? In Luke, (6:35, Berean Study Bible) Jesus says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return.”
Giving feels good! In Acts (20:35, NLT) Paul says, “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
So, how can we be more giving? We can be inspired by the unselfish characters of God and Jesus, and think about honoring both those we love and those who might be harder to love. We can use our time and talents to bless others, understanding the words of Jesus that it’s more blessed to give than to receive!
Parents, another nice Scripture to support giving is Galatians 6:10 (NIV): “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
This video is from Christian Questions Podcast. For more information please go to https://christianquestions.com
