The Grace of Giving

4. Giving Increases Our Love For Him

When a person receives Christ as his Savior, he experiences the delight of “first love” for the Lord. God’s Spirit witnesses with his spirit that he is a child of God (see Romans 8:16), and this newfound relationship brings great joy and freedom.

Unfortunately, many Christians fall away from this first love when they do not depend on God to meet their daily needs. They think it is their abilities and talents that are giving them success.

Lord Jesus addressed this issue when He spoke to the church of Ephesus. Jesus said: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2:4–5).

Notice the three-fold command

1.Remember

2.Repent

3.Do the First Works

Repentance involves a change of mind, heart, and direction. Forsake the thoughts, attitudes, and actions that have drawn your attention away from wholehearted love for God. Receive God’s forgiveness, and renew your commitment to do the “first works” of your faith.

First works could refer to many “important efforts,” such as worship, prayer, Bible study, giving, fasting, and service to others etc. Each of these activities deepens our intimacy with the Lord.

His love for us never changes but yes, giving can increase our love for Him. The principle is simple, “Where our treasure is, there our heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21)

5. Giving increases Your Grace

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The giver has more grace than the receiver. The more you give, the more God makes His grace to abound toward you so that you can grow in good works.

6. Giving Establishes Your Righteousness

Another thing your giving does is that it helps to establish your righteousness: “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness…” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

Our lives as Christians should depict our heavenly Father’s character, who gave His precious Son, Jesus for our salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Taking into consideration these blessings, I am sure that you will agree with me that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

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