Giving

The sales have opened up the festive season and I am sure you saw lots of nice things for sale and a desire to treat others with them. I hope you are in a position to give nice things to others, if not - or even if you bought the entire store - I pray you do not concern yourselves with covetousness and remember that there is much more to give than physical items. The best things you can give are from the Holy Spirit, often no money is needed: we can simply give time to work for noble causes.

We can gift encouragement to those who are discouraged, teaching to those craving knowledge, give a simple prayer to those who need it; we can give a psalm to someone without the word, we can give company to a lonely prisoner or hospital patient, we can give food and shelter to the homeless, water to people from the poorest parts of the world; we can send missions to godless places, we can promote peace to war torn lands, we can give medicine to countries ravaged by disease, and safety to vulnerable victims of crime. We can do a simple chore to make someones life a little easier.

One of my favourite characteristics of the Lord Jesus was his selfless actions: giving everything, including his very life for us. It is written how he spent most of his days serving the needs of others: healing the sick, teaching, casting out devils; and when necessary he also provided an abundance of food and the finest drink. He did not boast about it, serving obediently and with humility.

Not only did he inspire others, make believers, and bear testimony to the power and love of God: through his actions he was setting an example for us to follow. This was all he asked of us: to do the same in return out of thanks and love: to give glory to God by letting His light shine through us.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.