The Act of Giving

sacrificially, cheerfully, and with intention.

Photos by Pops and Piaf

“He himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Dear friends,

Tis the season for giving. What a beautiful time of year. We celebrate the greatest gift ever given. The gift of God’s son given to mankind to save us from our sin and the penalty of it. Without this gift, we would be eternally separated from God. Praise God we no longer have this fate! No wonder the song says rejoice!!

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32

The Bible says it it more blessed to give than to receive. I don’t know about you but I get so much joy giving people gifts. However it has taken me a long time to be very intentional about my giving. And the Bible isn’t just talking about presents. We can also give the gift of our time, money, and resources.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27

My love languages are time and touch. So it is very natural for me to give those to others. I’m very touchy and affectionate with my husband and children. It’s very easy for me. I also like words of affirmation so I am always encouraging others. Acts of service and gifts are not my love language so it’s harder for me to do that for others. I enjoy presents of course! But I would love to snuggle on the couch and talk more than a gift ;). In my marriage I had no idea what my husband’s love languages were. He didn’t know either. It wasn’t until my friend asked me, “ well, what is he always doing? What does he do for others?” Ohhhh, he likes to buy gifts for us and acts of service. Duh. I’m kind of bummed I didn’t really know this until just a couple years ago. So thus began my prayer for ways I can really bless my husband and show him love and help him to feel loved. How can I love him with his love languages? Gifts is one way.

I have always enjoyed buying gifts for people. But it was always last minute or I would buy them something I would like. I was focused on myself instead of the person I was giving to. My heart for gift giving and giving in general has changed. The Lord has been showing me how to truly consider others. I pray and ask the Lord to show me what they might need or desire. How can I bless them? What would be a special gift that shows them I was thinking of their individual wants and desires? That I notice them and the way God has made them. Or that I saw they were in need of a particular thing.

We are all so different. We all have different tastes and likes. Even if someone had expensive taste, you can find creative inexpensive ways to give to them, to bless them. If you take the time to watch and listen to that person you will know what to give them. And if you are stumped then ask the Lord to show you ways you can sacrificially give to them. He will show you.

“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11

Start preparing in advance. Look ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute. Whether it is a birthday or for Christmas. Begin thinking and planning and praying ahead of time. Be intentional and thoughtful.

Again, you don’t have to buy them anything. If their love language is time, give them the gift of your time. If it is your child, play with them. Take them on an outing just you two and truly enjoy them. If it is your husband, plan a special date with him. Give him the gift of your undivided attention. If their love language is gifts, then take the time to really think through a gift that would mean a lot to them.

Like I mentioned above, giving is not just about presents. It can be monetary or not at all. Time is a big one. We are all so busy. Especially around this time of year. Ask the Lord how you can give of your time to those who may need it. Examples could be singing at a convalescent home and visiting with those who are forgotten there. Remembering those who are lonely and don’t have anyone and visit with them. Do you know a new mother who needs her home cleaned? Does a family need a home cooked meal? Is there anyone you can be hospitable to? Can you send someone a lovely card in the mail? There are so many ways we can give. We just need to stop long enough to consider others around us.

Are there people in your church who are in need? Ask your pastor or elders. Pray that the Lord brings someone in need to you so you can bless them. Growing up, every Christmas we would save up money and put it in a box all of December. Then on the 23rd, at our Happy Birthday Jesus party, we would give it anonymously to someone in need. We would drop it off at the doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run. It was the best. My mom always did such a beautiful job showing us how to give. She is very thoughtful and giving. We are now continuing that tradition with all the grandkids and it’s such a blessing. The Lord always shows us who to give it to. And now that we are all adults and there are many of us the amount has increased a lot. It’s one of our favorite traditions.

Photo by The Nordic Kitchen

“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land” Deuteronomy 15:11

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40

Speaking of those in need I will share with you a humbling yet incredible story. When we moved to South Dakota Buck started his own handyman business. He did well in summer but when winter came the jobs would dwindle. Last December we had no money. A few people were late in paying us thus we were behind on our bills. We had no savings. I already had accrued medical debt from my appendix bursting and credit card debt because we had to use it to buy groceries at times. It was very humbling and very hard. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for gifts for our kids. My mom had brought gifts from her and my dad. But I wished I could buy them a gift from us. But we couldn’t. It was so sad for me not to be able to buy them anything. We had bills we had to pay but couldn’t pay those either. But we knew the Lord would provide for our bills in His time. We didn’t tell anyone these things. Buck had just told someone if they could pray for consistent work for him. Well, our church somehow figured it out and blessed us with a check from their benevolent funds. Then right after that a very giving friend knew how hard it is to have your own business and gifted us a check just because. Not only could we pay our bills for the month of December but we could buy our children gifts. Praise God. He saw our need and used the church to provide for us. It was so humbling and to be honest hard to take the money. We had never needed money like that before. But we needed it, so we humbly accepted and praised God for His great provision. We were changed. We learned this is what the church is supposed to do! We are to help those in need, within our body especially. We will never forget what our church and our friends did for us. What God did for us. And now we know what it feels like to have no idea how we will pay for bills and groceries. To have no choice but to trust God and wait patiently. We will never forget this. And one day if we are able, I want to bless those in need financially in large ways. Struggling in this way brought us humility, and complete trust and reliance on God our Provider. The sacrificial giving from our friends and our church blessed us in many ways and they may never understand what it did for our family. Tears are welling up in my eyes as I remember last year and all that took place.

Friends, there are so many in need all around us. Whether it be money, time, or resources. Ask the Lord how you can give. How you can bless those within your home and those outside of it. Those within your home church and those outside of it. Give intentionally. For it is more blessed to give than to receive.

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 11:24

And always check the motive of your heart too. Don’t do it to be seen by man. Don’t do it begrudgingly. Do it cheerfully and as unto the Lord. For nothing is really ours anyways. It’s all the Lord’s.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:2-4

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

And be sure to always give to the Lord first and foremost and give your best to Him. Honor the Lord with your first fruits and with all you have and give back to Him. And you will be blessed. Everything we have comes from Him. He is a good good Father. And He gives the best gifts to us. He already gave us the best gift, His beloved Son. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.” Proverbs 3:9

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas dear friends. May the Lord bless you and keep you and provide all your needs and grant you your hearts desires! May you get to experience the joy and blessing that comes with giving.

“May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!” Psalm 20:4

Sincerely, Taylor