Ultimately this list is all about how you can benefit from giving. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. There’s nothing that makes a Christian happier than knowing that she’s made God happy, and happy giving means a happy God. This need to amass more and more is completely real. At the heart of the Gospel is sacrificial self-giving (John 3:16). There is often a disconnect between who we think or say we are, and who we actually are. It’s such a joy to see God fulfill His promise of provision when we obey Him. Dec 13, 2017. When Jesus says, “It’s better to give than to receive,” He’s not making a statement about benefit. But, just in case we might miss the link, there are clear New Testament commands also (e.g. The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 2:7). Giving, even here, secures more real happiness than receiving, and besides, is Godlike and blesses forever. We struggle with believing that giving is better than getting, and why wouldn’t we? So let me help you to believe it and act upon it by giving you ten reasons why it is more blessed to give than to receive. Even secular observers have noticed with amazement how generous Christians often are with their money. In her book ,The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubormirsky writes, “Being kind and generous leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably, and this fosters a heightened sense of interdependence and cooperation in your social community.”. Psalm 50:10 says, “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” This beautifully reveals the sovereignty of God and His ultimate ownership of every resource. These words, quoted by Paul, as well known are not found in any one of the four Gospels, but are none the less genuine. 84 Heather Burks It's the happiest time of year and everyone is searching for those special gifts for the special people in their lives. Nicole Ventura. 1 Corinthians 1:2). Giving in a right spirit is an act of worship. When people experience a generous kindness, they’re more apt to treat others with the same sort of benevolence. Downloaded 115 times. Our dollars are changing homes, relationships, countries, and even the eternal destiny of many souls. Paul quotes Jesus in Acts, “It’s more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). If it feels forced or manipulative, all bets are off. Let's look at 10 reasons why it is better to give than receive and the blessing you will get in return. Often giving can mean making a sacrifice. The journal Health Psychology published a study in 2012 that found that people who regularly volunteer live longer. As they are captured by a spirit of benevolence, they begin to see things like time, attention, praise, and the benefit of the doubt as tools of generosity. This is not an argument for folly, but for faith. I’m going to break down 3 Reasons why giving will ALWAYS be more valuable than taking/receiving. Giving helps to move our focus away from us and on to others. Giving helps others. With millions living below the poverty line, our public medical system being stretched beyond limits and disabled people not being helped by government or society. It is rendering Him a tribute of praise. To a lot of people, giving is considered to be one of the greatest joys in life. When we give as joyful expression, it delights our Maker. It's purely human nature when you feel better spending money on others rather than using it for your own benefit, even when you are materially poor. The Scripture says that the eyes of man are never satisfied (Prov. We are funding resources for outreach, evangelism, and discipleship. We’re a disposable culture addicted to the emotional boost of buying something new. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 2:9). The biggest deterrent to giving is fear, the fear that if I give away too much I won’t have enough for this or that. By Jayson D. Bradley  •  December 22, 2015. Joseph Chiweshe, MD. We have helped to grow the company from a garage operation to the worldwide empire it is today. Yes, you abound in faith, love, etc., but “see that you abound in this grace also.” When we give sacrificially, painfully, for the benefit of others, we are faintly and on a small-scale preaching the Gospel message. He blesses us so that we will be able to bless others. © 2020 Pushpay Holdings Ltd., and affiliates. That’s pretty self-explanatory. 0 Like 0 Tweet. Now, many people would say that they’re not selfish, but they still make decisions based on what is ultimately best for them. John 3:16 is one of the most well-known verses of … Do you now see how giving makes us more blessed than getting? The free ebook, Start With Generosity, has been an excellent resource for others hoping to learn more about how God approaches generosity. 5 Reasons Why Receiving Is Harder Than Giving Related Articles This article features affiliate links to Amazon.com, where a small commission is paid to Psych Central if a book is purchased. 8:1). They only preserve a fragment of the sayings and doings of our Lord ( John 21:25 ). It isn’t until you actually become generous that you can say that giving is important to you. The path to happiness: it is better to give than receive James Randerson , science correspondent Thu 20 Mar 2008 20.33 EDT First published on Thu 20 Mar 2008 20.33 EDT The giver happier than the getter? In the very presence of Jesus, God demonstrates that He is love—and love gives. Acquiring and hoarding are part of our broken nature. At the end of the day, giving is always better than receiving. Giving not only promotes God’s work through us, but also God’s work in us, our sanctification. A 2011 report from the National Marriage Project found that regular acts of generosity on behalf of spouses creates a harmony that serves the relationship in the long term. 10:42). You can find his work all over the internet, including Overviewbible.com and Ministryadvice.com. Paul spells it out for us: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. Building up a history of generosity gives you plenty of stories where people did act responsibly. As all of God’s commands are given to enhance our lives, obeying this command will increase our happiness. They may not say it but they surely must think it: “This must be the real deal for people to give away so much of their own money. Every act of obedience recognizes that there is a higher authority in our lives, that there is a Lord over us who is entitled to honor and respect. They must really believe this stuff. We’re talking about little acts of kindness like fetching a cup of coffee or offering a back rub. We are all familiar with the adage that it’s better to give than to receive. When you give gifts to others, you are trusting that they will use the gift responsibly. It delights Him to see His people gladly opening their hearts and hands to provide for the needs of His Church and indeed of all His creatures. It says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”. See how God uses real-life people and circumstances to spark generosity in people and increase joy through giving. We are paying salaries of ministers and missionaries. Once you do, you’ll find that it begins to define you more profoundly than you previously thought possible. We need to become generous people because it’s the right thing to do, not because we’ll benefit. Stan Coffey Acts 20:32-38 This is a message of Paul to the Ephesians elders where he had spent two years laboring and built his most successful church and one of the most spiritual churches in the New Testament. MAY 24, 2016. Does the New Testament Command Christians to Tithe? That’s a pretty sobering statement. That goes against all our intuitions and instincts. While God doesn’t want us to give out of compulsion (2 Cor. Our hoarding communicates a belief that there’s only so much to go around and, if we don’t get it, someone else will. Across the board, these studies always seem to point at the happiness of people who give. It spreads through social networks. When God was talking to Abram about creating a nation that would be his, the point was always about being a blessing to others. Self-preoccupation breeds a false self-understanding. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matt. As David sang: “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?” (Psalms 116:12). That’s why when the Apostle Paul wanted to encourage the Corinthians to give more, he pointed them to the person and work of Christ. The God they worship and serve must be incredibly powerful to make people so generous.”. But… People who are bitten by the generosity bug begin to see their own belongings differently.

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