One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV
This principle of giving is one of the most exciting things to experiment with!
Early this past week, the mother of a good friend of mine passed away unexpectedly. My friend needed to book a quick ticket to her home country, leaving her husband and 2 kids behind. I asked if there is anything we can do to help out. She sent me a list of groceries to pick up for her husband and kids. Monday morning, the kids and I gathered some stuff from our larders and supplemented with a trip to the grocery store. As we tallied up our purchases at the register, the cashier said “Oh, the person who checked out before you gave me $25 to put toward your purchases.”
I stood there, my mouth agape with incredulity! I couldn’t believe it! My cart wasn’t piled high and overflowing as though I was buying for the Salvation Army, so it wasn’t out of pity that the money was given. It was simply a gift. And what a beautiful gift! The kids and I were so excited to receive this gift from God, given through another human. It felt like God had just given me a great big hug. I heard Him say: “I see, and I really care about you. In giving, you will receive.”
I am still amazed and grinning, just thinking about it. I understand in a fresh beautiful way, the vital importance of giving, even if we don’t have much to give. We are to eagerly, enthusiastically give from our own abundance and ability. We will always receive back; of course, not always in this particular way, because God rarely does things the same way twice!
We continued on our way, dropping off the groceries at my friend’s house, in which they became the grateful, incredulous recipients.
What joy to give!
There have been many times in my life that I’ve adopted the lie ‘When I have xxx amount of money, then I can give plenty away.’ Or, ‘when I have lots of time on my hands, then I’ll ride around the countryside blessing people and doing things for them.’ No! We can never bank on being generous in the future. We are to give of what we have today. If we do not give when we have little, neither will we give when there is much.
The spirit of the gift is much more important than the size of the gift.
I recall to mind some of the most meaningful gifts that our family has received over the years: it has almost always been something small and ‘insignificant’ but exactly what was needed at the time. A gift card to go on a date, $40 from a friend who felt led to give, a Christmas book for the family that we read every year. A $10 Starbucks card when we had a surgery with one of the kids. Meals – can we talk about meals? This has never failed to bless. Meals when we had a newborn in the house, meals when there were surgeries scheduled. Giving a meal is a pretty amazing gift! Yes, we have been the incredulous recipients of some extraordinary, extravagant gifts – each time it is humbling and awe-inspiring to receive.
In giving, we will receive.
In receiving, we open our hearts to love.
May we be known as people who give abundantly of whatever it is that we have.
And, even more importantly, may we be asking the Father how, to whom and when to give what we have.
Give, and it will be given to you – Good measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38