GIVING HEARTS ARE BLESSED (3)

“But do not forget to do good and to SHARE, for with such SACRIFICES God is well pleased” – Hebrews 13:16

GIVING HEARTS are BLESSED because sacrificial sharing pleases God: “But do not forget to do good and to SHARE, for with such SACRIFICES God is well pleased” (Heb.13:16). This concluding chapter of Hebrews begins with an admonition to “Let brotherly love continue” (v.1). Believers are then reminded “to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (v.2). Interestingly, this motivation towards the sacrifice of sharing is preceded by that of the sacrifice of praise: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, GIVING thanks to His name” (v.15). Both kinds of sacrifice flow from the Generous or Giving Heart!

Sincere generosity and sacrificial caring and sharing never fail to catch divine attention and acknowledgement: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb.6:10). Our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed this truth: “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Mt.10:42). “A cup of cold water” – It’s about the heart, not quantity! 

Here are four additional salient truths about generous, Giving Hearts:

Giving is a simple act; it need not be complicated! Sharing what we have is the simplest expression of generosity.There need not be any announcement, fuss, or showmanship about it. In a society that revolves around trade and business, generosity can become calculative, but the Bible teaches us to give without bragging: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven...But when you do a charitabe deed, do not let your left hand know what youe right hand is doing” (Mt.6:1-3). When our motive is to impress others, we’re not impressing God. We give to bless, not to impress. Even so, God’s divine order ensures that we’re ultimately blessed in return.

Giving should be for the Joy of it. It’s fun to give! We give from a sense of joy rather than of duty. It’s good to be generous. Paul assured the church at Philippi that their gifts of support were “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Phil.4:18). The next verse declares the sure reward: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phi.4:19). That’s a promise that some selfish, stingy, greedy, miserly folks wish to claim, but in vain! From God’s perspective, giving generously isn’t about the size of our gift. Motive matters far more than money.  

Giving’s greatest motive is Love: “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not LOVE, it profits me nothing” (1Cor.13:3). Generosity is all about the heart. Giving to others is inextricably tied to loving others. Without loving our neighbours – family, friends, colleagues and vulnerable members in our community – even the grandest acts of generosity are meaningless. On the flip side, the smallest acts of kindness and generosity are considered momentous when coupled with a heart of love.

Giving involves more than just money: “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1Tim.6:18). We’re made RICH to REACH-OUT to humanity in all positive ways. Although the Bible provides various examples of giving materially towards the poor and needy, generosity can be expressed through giving our time, resources, talents or even a listening ear or a kind word to those in need. Romans 12:13 speaks of “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Let’s continue to look to Jesus as the ultimate expression of generosity and sacrifice. Giving Hearts will never go unrewarded, in Time and in eternity!