Freely Ye have Received

by Karla
from Virtuous Daughters, September 2005~Volume 5, Number 6

If I had to tell you the number one reason I give, it is in response to all that God has given me.  Because everything I have is a gift from God.  Therefore I feel motivated to give back to God by giving to my neighbor, my church, and people in need.  God calls us to take care of those in need.  He calls us to care for the sick, the lonely, the hungry, the homeless, and the hopeless. 

We can do this in so many ways. Money is not the only way to give. You don’t have to stop on the street and give a homeless person money—that actually would not be a very prudent idea—you could get hurt.

But you can donate your time at a homeless shelter or donate blankets or food or money to one.  You can contribute food, money, or time to a local food bank.  You can minister to the lonely by visiting people in the hospital or in a nursing home.  You can help the hopeless by keeping a positive attitude in your conversations with them and reminding them that God is always with us—even at our darkest hour.  God manifested Himself on this earth through Jesus Emmanuel.  Emmanuel means “God with us”.

​When you are speaking to someone and they are discussing their needs/problems with you, you can think of a way that you could help them and offer your prayers and other forms of help.  So keep your heart and mind open to giving to others, which will glorify your Father in heaven.