I love the promise, “Give, and it SHALL be given to you.” I’ve seen it work in my life on many occasions and in remarkable ways!
There are many ways to give. We often think of giving money, but in reality, we can do so much more than that.
As I reflect on this subject, I immediately think of my mom and dad. They were hard-working farmers with eight children. The money was scarce, and there was never enough.
We wore “hand me down” clothes, which were the norm for large families, and we only bought the necessities.
In this setting, I learned the beauty of giving.
Mom and Dad gave what they had, which was vegetables from the garden, baked goods from the kitchen, and a lot of love for people in general. Their love of people and giving was far-reaching for this young Amish Mennonite couple.
They believed giving was a higher calling, and merely fighting poverty in their own family was not an excuse to be tight and stingy.
On several occasions, they loaded up strangers and brought them to the farm to live with us. They would find a place somewhere in the barn or attic for someone to stay for a short time.
My memories of those times are etched in my mind and formed the mindset that there’s always room for one more and always something I can give.
My parents showed us that others matter, and giving helps us get over ourselves.
My parents did not have the financial means to give, but they had hearts “bigger than Dallas” and could see the needs of another human being.
Giving satisfies the giver and softens the hearts of the recipient.
We were created to give so that the harshness of life would not consume us. The soul of every man, woman, boy, and girl can become calloused by the cares, struggles, and even success of our lives.
The very poor can become despondent and self-consumed because of the poverty they face every day. The very rich can become unaware of those in need and consumed with their own need for more.
The rich and the poor alike can go through life with no satisfaction and joy because they lack the understanding that “To give is to live.”
Giving sets the foundation to keep us from becoming selfish because it is always others-centered.
Recently, Jonas bought a new trailer to move some of our belongings from PA to TX. He was looking for a rental but couldn’t find the right size for his Jeep, so he bought one with the intent of reselling it after the drive.
He did list it and got a few interested parties, but no one came up with the cash.
Eventually, he told me he’s just going to give it away. I wasn’t very supportive of his idea. I wanted to sell the trailer and put the money back into our bank account.
But then he filled me in on something he told God. He said, “If someone comes to look at the trailer, and they want it for a ministry, I’ll give it to them.”
My instant heart reaction was disappointment. I was so focused on selling it, and after I heard this, I knew that’s what would happen with the trailer.
The next call he got was someone looking for a trailer for their ministry. He came to pick up the trailer and gave Jonas the money.
As he handed him the money, Jonas gave it back to him and shared his promise to God.
At that moment, Jonas’ heart was delighted, and the man who received the gift was thrilled!
I KNEW it was the right thing to do and was grateful Jonas followed through and experienced the joy of giving in that moment.
Many times, our instinct is to have, hoard, and keep. We say, “IT’S MINE! I worked and prayed for what I have.”
However, giving something you want to hold on to is a test of the heart.
The moment you give it away, you immediately feel a release. In time you forget you gave it away, but the recipient will always remember your generosity.
A lifestyle of giving, whether small or large, is the greatest thrill and takes courage.
God will ask you to give in ways that stretch your comfort level.
In time the challenge to give may grow, but your faith will equal the gift you give.
Giving can become an addiction with no adverse side effects. You can give to your heart’s content, and there will be no regrets.
