Give from the Heart

 June 1, 2024

Saturday

Acts 20:35 (NASB 2020) ³⁵ In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Let's see if I get this. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than receive. Then, why are so few people giving?

First, I would say that many people aren't giving even when it appears they are giving. They have listened to their preachers who told them that they needed to sow a faith gift that would return, O I don't know, ten or one hundred fold. It depends on the preacher. These people aren't giving. They are investing. They are looking for a good return on their money. They expect money back. Who wouldn't pay a dime to get a dollar? (I could argue that they are trying to bribe God but I just don't want to get hung up on semantics.) Of course, it is the preacher who is getting the ten and hundred fold return.

Second, some people are giving out of obligation. They have heard that they should tithe and they do. Obligation is a drudgery. It buys righteousness for the giver. Many of these people think they are God's very special people because they tithe (or they call whatever they give a tithe). This isn't really a gift. They do this to claim to be better. They have simply bought their right to absolve their guilt of not tithing. There is no blessing in it.

Third, some people are giving to be seen. They will make the big splash when there is a campaign at the church. (In one debt paying campaign I had several people ask if they could give the last thousand dollars. When we got down to about ten thousand dollars I thought, "I could say that there is only one thousand dollars left and ten of them would have come forward immediately to pay it off." But then, that wouldn't have been very ethical would it?)  They will pseudo-hide that they have given the big gift. Once the church is in a stir from where it came from, they of course, admit they gave it. Their blessing will come from people. That will not last into eternity.

The problem with the unblessed giving is that each person is doing it from their flesh, not from their heart. The heart gives out of love. The evidence of our love for our Lord is in our commitment. It is not from obligation or compulsion but from our hearts.

Think of it. When you truly love someone a gift doesn't seem to cost anything. You are so eager to give the gift that you can't wait until it is given. No recognition is needed. No quid pro quo is expected. No guilt is absolved. It is an act of the heart. Then, it is more blessed to give than receive.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NASB 2020) ⁷ Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.