Why Give?

In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’” ACTS 20:35 AMP

One of life's greatest lessons is this: 'Don't define impact by how much you store away but by how much you give away'. This present age defines relevance by the balance in your account, the square footage of the house you have built and the school fees paid per term on each child. We are in an age that encourages people to pursue courses that are financially viable, not necessarily what their passions. We have built and entrenched a culture that encourages hoarding, not sharing.

Paul here led by example. He was an itinerant evangelist, traveling from place to place. He could not hold down a steady job, and the bills had to be paid. He could have made a demand on the churches he had established and visited often, but he would rather request for aid towards preaching and spreading the gospel than focus on his own needs. And so, he learnt tent making and through it, was able to provide for his own needs, as well as the needs of the others around him. Yes, there were days of lack, but God had taught him to be dependent on Him alone. He didn't have trouble adjusting to times of lack, as he had a clear understanding that a man's life was not defined by abundance of possession, but by the Presence of the abundant God.

Why do i even work? Is it just for my own comfort and my family? Is there all there is to life? Today's extract says something about why you work: 'to help the weak'. All around me are people who are struggling to make ends meet, not necessarily out of laziness, but from a genuine lack of resources. Can I take time out of my comfort zone, and extend a helping hand? Jesus laid a good example for us to follow all through his earthly ministry, as he went about doing good, healing the sick, raising the dead, and making provisions where required. That is the life of a disciple, one who sees him/herself as such. It does not matter what the world calls you; it would really matter how God sees you. Does he know you as his own? Can he entrust true riches to me, sure that I will dispense it according to his grace? His time of favour is here.