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The Giving Paradox

It is impossible to love without giving. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he give up his life for his friends” (John 15:13). And on the same night, he humbly gave the greatest gift humanly possible. Likewise, God the Father gave the greatest gift heavenly possible, when “he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16), silencing his critics who might otherwise claim that any gift from God was no cost at all, as He could just make more.

So great loving begins with great giving.

However, we must be careful how we give. Because great giving is not necessarily great loving. Paul warned, “If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). 

Solomon warned, “people are tested by their praise” (Proverbs 27:21). 

Are you giving out of love? Or are you on a quest for praise?

Jesus knew the hypocrisy that surrounds giving, and warned us not to do it for show. “When you give to the poor, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3).

From the Scriptures, I see three clear reasons that God calls us to give: (1) to know Him better, (2) to set us free from Money as a master, and (3) to enrich us.

In truth, God is a real giver. He delights to “exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth” (Jeremiah 9:24).  When we give what is kind, just, or right, we reflect our Father, and know him better.

Giving sets us free from the false master money. We are a slave to whatever has mastered us. So when we misplace our love or fear by placing it in money, it enslaves us.  When we give, we physically trade the promises offered by money for the promises offered by God.  It is God who provides for us, and he deserves the glory.

Finally, Jesus commands us to give to enrich us, not impoverish us. It really is “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Everyone dies, and nobody takes it with them.  But we can send it on ahead, as Jesus demonstrated to giving to everyone who asked Him, and undeniably has the richest welcome in heaven. But do we believe this promise? If we truly believed Him, wouldn’t we be trying harder to give than to get?

God is the real giver. May we reflect Him when we give. To God be the glory!

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