During his final missionary journey, the Apostle Paul spent some time in the Greek town of Miletus. From there, he called for the elders of the Ephesian congregation to come to Miletus to meet with him. When they had come, he discussed some very serious and important issues with them (Acts 20:17–19, 29–30).
Toward the end of his discourse, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that he had always provided for his own needs, as well as for the needs of others. He exhorted the Ephesians to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v. 35).
As Christians, we hear this statement often, and we may even take it for granted. But, have we ever asked ourselves the question, “Why is it more blessed to give than to receive?”
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong taught that there are two basic philosophies of life. To put them into simple terms, he called them the “give way” and the “get way.” Today’s world is based on the satanic principles of greed, lust, selfishness and vanity—the “get way.”
From the beginning, human society was faced with a choice between these opposing ways, represented by the two trees in the Garden of Eden. We read: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:7–9).
God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it (v. 15).
Had Adam and Eve followed God’s instruction—had they not partaken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—the Garden of Eden would have continued to serve their needs, and they would not have become subject to death (Genesis 2:16–17). They would have been blessed beyond measure if they had chosen obedience to God’s way of life. Instead, since they did not heed God’s warning, the satanic way of “get” entered the scene for mankind. Human beings have struggled ever since, and human society has not learned the lesson that the way of disobedience to God and His law leads only to a life of misery and death.
Human beings have chosen the “get way.” Yet, for those who practice it, the “give way” is more blessed—Jesus Christ said so! Why? Here are three simple and concrete reasons that profoundly illustrate the truth of Christ’s teaching.
Reason #1: Giving Brings Inner Joy
God Himself is the supreme example of joyful giving. He is the greatest giver of all. God the Father gave us His Son. He gives us His Spirit and His truth. He gives us understanding. He answers our prayers, and gives us encouragement. Christ gave His very life (Hebrews 12:1–3).
God’s very nature is giving. What else does Scripture reveal about His nature? We read, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). God is not a reluctant or somber giver; He is full of joy.
Even in sacrifice, Christ knew joy would result. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2).
Christ’s sacrifice was indescribably painful. Along with the physical torture He experienced, He endured for the first time ever a total separation from God the Father. Yet, despite the pain, He could see the joy ahead—the joy of a large and happy God Family with many members—that His sacrifice would make possible. So, He was able to count His suffering as joy.
The Apostle Paul elaborates on this principle by which the joy of giving puts our suffering into proper perspective: “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:1–5).
Paul emphasizes that the Macedonian brethren had first given themselves to the Lord. Indeed, to receive God’s gifts fully, we must give ourselves to Him in love and in obedience. Psalm 103 lists the benefits He gives to those who obey Him. He is kind to all mankind, and His ways of giving cannot ever be numbered.
Scripture reminds us: “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9). The key to real joy is to give ourselves first to God, then to the people around us. We see this principle in action in the gospel account of Christ feeding the multitude (five thousand men, plus their families) who were listening to Him. The apostles did not give the bread and fish directly to the poor. First, they gave the loaves and fishes to Christ, then Christ gave back to the apostles more than enough to feed the multitude (Luke 9:11–17).
Reason #2: Giving Helps Those in Need
Jesus Christ preached the Gospel— the “good news”—of the coming Kingdom of God. He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind and fed the multitudes. He was never too tired to give of Himself to others. The Apostle Paul wrote to the brethren in Galatia, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
How can we, as members of the “household of faith,” help one another? In addition to our tithes and offerings, we can pray fervently that God will bless the Work of the Church. We can pray specifically that God will add new laborers to the harvest (Matthew 9:38). We can pray for the inspiration and success of the Tomorrow’s World telecast, the preaching of the Gospel via the Internet, the various print publications, Living University and each of the many congregations around the globe. As we are able, we can also give of our time in serving one another, not only in our congregations but where we know of brethren in need. Consider how you have been blessed, and how Christ asked of us: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Consider the principle of the “Good Samaritan.” When a lawyer came asking the question “Who is my neighbor?” Christ related a story. A man, attacked by thieves, was stripped of his clothing and left half-dead at the roadside. A priest and a Levite each passed by, choosing not to help the man in distress. Were they in too much of a hurry? Or did they simply lack a caring and giving nature? Finally, a Samaritan came by. This Samaritan—a man the priest and the Levite would have looked down on and despised— bandaged the injured man’s wounds and paid to have him nursed back to health.
A true neighbor is one who goes the extra mile to help. Christ told the lawyer to go and do likewise (Luke 10:29–37).
Reason #3: Great Rewards and Dividends
Here is a wonderful paradox: the more we give, the more we receive! “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).
Giving does not go unrewarded. Paul encouraged the Ephesian brethren to give, “knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free” (Ephesians 6:8). Paul further explained, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
Abraham was willing to give his very son when God told him to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there. God did not actually want Isaac to be sacrificed; He was testing Abraham, and Abraham passed the test, obeying God without any doubt (Genesis 22:1–10). Abraham knew that Isaac was the promised seed, and that God cannot lie (Hebrews 11:17–19), so he had complete faith that God would not take his son from him.
Indeed, as Abraham was about to slay Isaac, the Angel of the Lord intervened and stopped the sacrifice. Speaking for God, the Angel said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12). Abraham had shown his willingness to give his son, and was given an amazing blessing in return, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (v. 18). Put simply, Abraham had qualified to become the father of many nations, and the father of the faithful.
A time is yet coming when Christ will gather all the nations to Him (Matthew 25:31–33). He will set the sheep at His right hand, and the goats at His left hand. The sheep are the givers, to whom God will give His Kingdom. Christ will say to them, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (vv. 34–36).
Then the righteous will answer Him: “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” (vv. 37–39). What will be Christ’s answer? “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (v. 40).
A sadder outcome awaits the goats— the “getters”—who will receive the reward of their selfishness. They will not inherit eternal life, but rather will go away into everlasting punishment, while the righteous enter into eternal life (v. 46).
God promises, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7). He also says, “behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
Are our works the works of “give” or of “get”? It is up to each of us individually. What a joy it will be to hear Jesus welcome each overcomer to “Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21–23). So, let us remember the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”