Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Bible teaches that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.  That would be a great verse for a prize fighter, wouldn’t it?  But seriously, the way to gain is to give.  However, here’s the hitch:  we don’t give just to get.  In all my years of pastoring I can make an air-tight case for the joy of giving, both scripturally and in actual life occurrences.  Giving churches are invariably receiving churches.  Giving individuals are invariably those who receive bountifully.  Jesus taught it.  Look at the scripture above.  Our Lord promised, “Give, and it shall be given unto you!”

I often tell young pastors and church leaders, “If you want your church to be blessed, you must be a blessing yourself.”  I love Proverbs 11:24 that promises, “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.”  (New Living Translation)  The wealth spoken of here is not necessarily money (although God certainly blesses in that area as well).  The receiving is primarily the bounty of God’s provision in your life in basically every area of existence.  Church leader, if you want more people in your church, be willing to give or send some of the people you do have to work in other vineyards.    If you want financial strength, undergird missions around the world.  Scripture emphasizes:  “Give!  Don’t hoard!”

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.  Try it!  Yes, this goes against the teachings and understandings of the world system, but we’re not in that system anyway.

Be a giver today!  And everyday!

O God, You loved me so much that you gave.   You freely gave Jesus to us so that we could have eternal life.   You have taught us that loving leads to giving.   May we, as your servants, learn that lesson well and, having learned it, practice it in every day life.

Amen.