Giving Freely - Kefira M

To “give freely” means to give willingly without the feeling of obligation holding someone back, or without being ordered or forced to do so. As Christians, the Bible is clear throughout its pages that we are called to give generously, whether that is in giving financially, emotionally, or through materials. The desire to give what we possess can stem from our knowledge that God can sustain us in providing for our daily needs. In the verse Philippians 4:19, it states “I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ!”

When we know our needs will be met, it gives us the freedom to give. However, we may often give while we do not have much and our own needs have yet to be met.

Why is giving so emphasized in the Christian faith? Christian blog “Got Questions” sums up the answer:

Our God is a giving god
Our God is of abundance
Our God loves to give

In wanting to imitate Christ, we can follow after these attributes in God’s character. God gives in full and when we appropriately receive God’s generosity, it humbles us in knowing we cannot rely on just ourselves to provide for things out of our reach. We may also recognize that we are not worthy of His gift as imperfect and often selfish beings. Out of gratitude for God’s provision, we become more gracious with others. We begin to learn the heart of God and want to be more like Him.

Generosity:

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes being “generous” as being liberal in giving. Generosity has positive effects on human relationships. When one person gives freely to another, the recipient often “passes forward” the gift. We see this happen in all aspects of life and all belief systems. In the Christian life, this impulse is very great. Jesus taught us that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”— 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Receiving Freely:

Truly giving freely also means receiving freely, in that you have the choice and free-will to receive things. Much as we do not aim to give out of obligation, we also can receive things outside of being ordered or forced to. Tara Joyce of the blog “Elastic Mind” expands on this idea in recognizing that often what we give may not always benefit the recipient. “You do not need to receive everything that I want to give you, just as I don’t need to receive everything that you want to give me. Sometimes, you and I give for the wrong reasons, and it’s important to honour this truth about ourselves”, Joyce states.

When giving or receiving, think about these aspects: