10 ways to love: Give without sparing

 

Jenna Voight

Give without sparing

We've already talked about listening without interrupting and speaking without accusing (peep the two previous posts!), and this week we'll be talking about giving without sparing. Giving is one of the biggest ways we can bring honor and glory to God. He's given us blessings that we get to use to bless others. These blessings include time, money, food, etc. Because we're choosing to honor Him when we give, you can trust that He will provide for you. You are not losing when you give; in fact, you're gaining.

2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. It should bring us joy and delight to give to others because we know God is using the resources we've just given up to do amazing things. The verse right before that says, ”The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6). Not that receiving back should be our purpose of giving, but we will get back what we choose to give. It's important to remember that the harvest we reap might not be seen on Earth. God may be storing it up for you in heaven. The joys of the harvest will greatly outweigh the difficulties of the sowing process.

Proverbs 11:24 tells us this: ”One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.“ When we give freely, it opens up our hearts to cling to eternal matters rather than ones that will fade away with the earth. In that way, you become richer because your heart is clinging to things of God instead of the things of man.

Choose to give this week. Choose to give money in you church's offering box, even if it's just a few dollars. Choose to give your time to a friend in need. Find ways to give that you've never done before. And do all of this with a cheerful heart. May your week be blessed with giving freely and experiencing the joy and freedom that comes with it.