Freely Give

by Sarah
from Virtuous Daughters, October 2005~Volume 5, Number 7

Giving is really so very rewarding!  It is to be seen as a privilege, a joy!  Here are some pointers from Scripture concerning our opportunity to give.  

• Freely give.  Consider what you have been given.  “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” -John 10:28  “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”-James 1:17  “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” -Luke 12:48  “…freely ye have received, freely give.” -Matthew 10:8 
• Give cheerfully.  How pleasant is it to receive a gift if the person doesn’t really want to give it?  “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” -2 Corinthians 9:7  “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” -Acts 20:35
• Give of your time instructing and teaching.  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” -Matthew 28:19  “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”-Proverbs 9:9
• Give mysteriously!  Whether it is a fresh flower on the pew of a friend or some money donated, it’s great fun giving gifts but not telling who it’s from!  “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” -Matthew 6:3-4  “...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” -James 4:6
• Give out of love.  “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give m body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”- 1 Corinthians 13:3
• Don’t give...Can there really be a time not to give?  Don’t give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)
• Give thanks.  Is it easy for you to forget to do this?  Sometimes it is for me.  “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18  “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Corinthians 15:57
• Give to little ones, the poor, and widowed.  God talks a lot about giving to those with special needs.  “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” -Psalm 41:1  “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”-Proverbs 28:27  “Honour widows that are widows indeed.”-1 Timothy 5:3  “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” -Matthew 10:42
• Give to your enemies.  What?!  That’s what the Bible says and I have tried it.  It helped me forgive and love them when I took of my time and resources and invested in them.  “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink.”-Proverbs 25:21 
• Give selflessly.  No strings attached.  When you give a gift to a friend, think of her preferences (i.e. favorite color, style, etc.), not your own.  “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”-Philippians 2:3  “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”-Romans 12:10
• Give according as the Lord leads.  “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”-Romans 8:5-6 

 
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” -Mark 10:45
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