More Blessed

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

I have always loved this verse, perhaps you do as well. It just sounds good. It has a noble quality about it—a high and lofty ring to it. The question is: do we really believe it? It may be that secretly, silently, in our weaker moments, we think it is actually better to receive than to give. In those times, if we are honest, we think I am blessed if I give but more blessed if I receive. This may be the way we think. If not, then why is it that, at times, when it comes to giving we have to talk ourselves into it? Why is it that pastors have to preach sermons on it? Moreover, why is it that we do not naturally, spontaneously do more of it, and look for opportunities to do it? Just musing…

Let’s consider what Jesus is teaching us. Once again, the words of Jesus as quoted by Paul: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Note the wording: “more blessed.” This is not to say that you will not be blessed by receiving, but that you will be more blessed by giving. You can be blessed by receiving a gift from someone you love or in buying something you like, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it is more blessed to give than to receive.

When I was a child, I loved to get gifts at Christmas, but as a father, I discovered it was more rewarding to give gifts at Christmas. I think this is an illustration of what Jesus was saying… We will be more blessed if we are generous.

Paul told Timothy, “(God) richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” and then he admonishes Timothy to command the people “to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

God wants to bless us with material resources, but He will bless us even more when He blesses through us. We will be more blessed when we give graciously, willingly, and generously of our resources. This is something you can believe in.

I close this writing by reminding you of the words of Paul to the Corinthian believers, “Just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, in love, see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Then Paul added a good reason for generosity in these words: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). May our dear Lord see good cheer and generosity in our hearts and lives!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron