“And God is able to make ALL grace abound toward you, that you, ALWAYS having ALL sufficiency in ALL things, may have an abundance for EVERY good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (emphasis mine)

The Grace of Giving

Part 2

 Over the years, I have known many generous people, and I have been the recipient of their kindnesses during lean years. My aunt has always exhibited this trait of self-emptying. She goes above and beyond any hope or expectation—if you so much as compliment something of hers, she either gives it to you on the spot, or sneaks it into your car before you leave her house. This aunt, who is my stepfather’s sister, had the same poverty-stricken childhood as he did, but developed a very different response to having so little.

As the grace of giving began to mature in me—a maturity wrought by the Holy Spirit, as all of God’s graces are—I began seeing the needs of others. The hardest thing for me was to consider the needs of others as more important than my own needs. This involves placing my trust firmly in God’s provision and promises, no matter what things look like at the moment.

During the Christmas season, nearly every single day another request for money comes from another organization—legitimate needs, no doubt—but where should we give?

I had to answer hard questions in my heart—as we always do when we face the values instilled in us as children. Is it “just as good” to give money to a cause as it is to go and physically work and meet practical needs that way? Don’t missionaries go and do work?

I realize we are to share whatever we have been given. Many hands are needed to do work—but those who are able to give (and most of us are able to give more than we are willing to give) can be confident that giving can be just what is needed. The ability to give of our finances comes from having already used our skills and energies to work and earn the money we are giving. We thus “put our hand to the plow” in the first place, enabling others to “put their hand to the plow” in directly meeting the needs in person. What we call “missions work” is enabled by those who give financially.

God masterfully gives us what we need to do His kingdom work. His gift might be physical strength to accomplish the hands-on deeds; or it might be the job we hold down to earn the money to give towards the work; or it might be His other giftings that can change people’s lives.

We might plant seeds, or we might water, but any increase will come from God. Either way—whether hands-on work, or financial giving—we need to learn the grace of giving. We need to live in a pattern of self-emptying.

“Thank You for giving us what is needed for ALL Your work on earth. Some of us have money, some talents, some strong arms, some other gifts. Would you accomplish the grace of giving in us. Amen.”