Spiritual Fitness Sample

Giving

We’ve all heard our parents say, “Sharing is Caring!” Most children grunt and moan when we get told this, but what does God say about sharing and giving? The Bible is filled with verses and passages that talk about how to give, how much, to whom and when to give. No matter what scripture you read on giving, there is one similar thread that remains constant through God’s word, and that is that giving is selfless. 1 Corinthians 13: 3 says that if we “give all we own to the poor or even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr but don’t love I’ve gotten nowhere...” This verse reminds us that even as we give, we must do it selflessly and with love. Being selfless isn’t easy; but God loves a giving heart and He also wants us to be postured in a way that we live out a life of giving with loving sacrifice. After all, this is what Jesus did for us on the cross; and the Bible says that there is “no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). Laying down our lives means giving up our way, our will, and our own desires so that we can graciously and fully give to those around us without expecting anything in return. Jesus tells us we are more blessed in giving than receiving (Acts 20:35).

Find and do one thing that you can give selflessly to your family, to your friends, and to your community this week.