It is better to give than to receive. I believe that this is a quote from the bible but I am more familiar with hearing it in conversations, especially around the holidays. I have always agreed with this statement. But recently, I had an experience that brought this saying to life for me.
I have a friend who practices God led giving on a regular basis. This is not something that she brags or boasts about. I actually had no idea that she was doing this until one day her activities involved me. What she does is, she receives financial blessings and she holds them until God tells her, who to release them to.
We happened to cross paths one day. I remember her telling me that she would be right back because she had something for me. When she returned, she handed me a small envelope and told me, that God told her to give it to me. I was surprised and thankful that God whispered in her ear about me. And I was even more amazed to find out that there was a $100 bill in the envelope.
I tucked the envelope away, believing that I would need it at some point. I remained grateful and thankful the entire time I had it. There were times when I thought about spending it but it never felt right. I carried that envelope around for months.
Then one day, as I was driving, the thought came to me, to give the envelope to a young lady I had recently met. By this time this envelope had become kind of a security blanket for me. As long as I had it, I knew I wasn't broke. So I asked the Lord for confirmation. If He wanted me to give it to her I wanted a clear sign to do so.
As I arrived to my destination and opened my car door, who was I looking at? The young lady I just got done talking to God about. She was sitting in the passenger side of the car I parked next to. With her window down, we were basically face to face. I accepted this as the confirmation I was asking for.
I passed the envelope over to her. I briefly told her the story that it was a financial blessing given to me but now the Lord wanted me to give it to her. It is amazing how God does these things. She proceeded to tell me that she was just in the car talking to her son about needing some money for the things she needed to do that day. Which actually involved her helping some other people. Her story gave me chills. God never ceases to amaze me.
I was even more excited this time. God was able to use me to give to her, exactly when she needed it. The whole process still amazes me. When I gave her that envelope it just felt right. That was where, that envelope needed to be the entire time. It is a good feeling to be on the receiving side of the blessing but it was even better to be on the giving side.
God will use us to help each other. We just have to be willing to listen to that small still voice and respond. Be a blessing to someone and don't forget you can't beat God led giving.
Acts 20:35 35I 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.
Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Proverbs 3:27 27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Luke 3:11 11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Luke 6:38 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.