Giving & Receiving

 You’ve probably heard the phrase “it is better to give than to receive”.  I remember hearing that as a kid and strongly disagreeing!  How can it be better to give?  Receiving is definitely the best, especially in the minds of kids!

The phrase is found in Acts 20:35 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’   

The principle is found throughout scripture in both the old and new testaments.  My favorite is in Proverbs.

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
²⁵ The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶ He who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.       Proverbs 11:24-26

The wisdom here says that sowing is rewarded with increased harvest, while withholding what is justly due or a refusal to pay will result in longing, or even worse – being cursed.  Prosperity is promised to the generous.  And my favorite line is in the middle:  “he who waters will himself be watered”   in another translation it reads; “he who refreshes others, will himself be refreshed.”

Is there a return to us from what we give or release to others?  I believe there is!  I believe that this is a cycle that is woven into the fabric of mankind. Furthermore, I believe that it is one of the ways that we, humanity, reflect the nature of God. 

God is a giver. He is the source of all good things. He is our provider of both natural and supernatural things. He is our strength, our wisdom, our confidence, peace, joy…  when we give from what we have received from Him already, available to receive more.  This principle is also found throughout scripture (see Luke 6:38 & 2Cor. 9:10-11 for starters). He is the God of multiplication!  When we use what He provides to us, we are told to expect increase.  God set the ultimate standard for giving:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?   Romans 8:32

God is the ultimate GIVER  -  He gave us Him image (creation)  and He created us for relationship with Him.  He gave us life in creation and again in JESUS! We are made like Him – to give! He made us to receive as well.

This brings me back to that beautiful phrase in the proverb; “he who waters will himself be watered”   If we believe that God is our source and that we were made to receive from Him, then we can give and be generous without any fear of lack or being diminished.  We can give with faith that what we have poured out will be returned to us with abundance.  We can trust that God will continue to be our abundant supply and blessing. 

To me it is an endless cycle of strengthening. The more we receive from God the more we are able to release to others. That act of sowing or releasing brings blessing and increase from God to us, providing a wealth from which we can continue in generosity towards others. In this cycle we, the people of God, reflect the nature of God.

The degree to which you receive Him determines your ability to which you can give Him to those around you!  So GIVE…because you have received. GIVE because you believe you will be replenished and rewarded. GIVE because you were made to give!