Snapshots From The Bible WK 30~ Acts 20:35 Giving and receiving

 
 


Acts 2 V 35

‘In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 

Children generally are very attuned to receiving. This is very obvious when their Birthdays or other celebrations occur and they are very quick to tell us exactly what they would like to receive! As adults, we enjoy seeing the look on our children’s faces as they open their presents and shriek with happiness seeing their expectations fulfilled! In situations like this the joy of giving is very obvious which is why, as people mature, they are often more interested in giving than receiving. We can learn a great deal about giving from children too because they are very loving, full of laughter and fun, all of which create the feel-good factor in us. 

As implied, giving is actually a very wide field and should never be confined to occasions. Sometimes giving requires dedication and it may involve hard work. Alternatively you can make a small commitment to giving in the first instance. A simple example is to give a smile to people when you are introduced, conveying a sense of pleasure and feeding into someone’s sense of self-worth. Giving support by making time to listen to people’s ideas or problems is very valid, especially as time is a precious commodity. Often people are able to make far better decisions having received the opinions or advice of others and seeing them achieve on a personal or business level is very rewarding.

Financial aid enables us to make a huge difference to other people’s lives in our own countries and abroad. What people sometimes fail to realise is that when you give whenever you are in a position to, you tend to receive at a time when you are in need. This does not mean you will necessarily receive like for like, you might receive something else- an unexpected job opportunity for instance after contributing hours coaching the community football team! 

Giving is immensely satisfying and no matter how strong we are and how good life is, there are times when we all benefit from the help and kindnesses other people show to us. Try opening your eyes and identifying genuine opportunities to give on a daily basis. You will add great value to your own life and the lives of others. 

Jaz McKenzie
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