Skip to main content

Giving Freely: The Joy of Generosity


Giving Freely: The Joy of Generosity

Scripture: "Freely you have received, freely give." - Matthew 10:8

1. Giving freely brings joy and blessing not only to the receiver, but also to the giver.

2. It allows us to show love and kindness without expecting anything in return.

3. Freely giving fosters a spirit of generosity and gratitude within us.

4. It sets us free from feeling pressured or manipulated into giving.

5. When we give freely, we reflect the love and generosity of God to others.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of giving and for the joy it brings. Help us to give freely and cheerfully, without expecting anything in return. May our acts of generosity be a reflection of your love in this world. Amen.

My story 

I remember the day I decided to give a generous and unexpected gift to a friend in need. He had been going through a tough time and I wanted to show him that I cared and was there for him. When I presented the gift to him, he initially responded by saying that I didn't have to do it, that it was too much.

But I could see the gratitude in his eyes, the surprise and relief that someone cared enough to do something so kind for him. And I took pleasure in the fact that I didn't have to do it, but chose to do it out of love and compassion for my friend, guided by God's love for all of His children.

I have also experienced being pressured and manipulated into giving when I didn't want to. It made me feel oppressed, like my choice was being taken away from me. But I remembered the words from my faith, "Freely you have received, freely give", and I knew that true giving should come from a place of joy and willingness, not obligation or guilt.

I strive to be like the cheerful giver that my faith teaches me to be, understanding that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So I choose to give freely, without strings attached, knowing that the joy of giving is its own reward. And I hope to inspire others to do the same, to give from a place of love and generosity, bringing light and hope into the lives of those around us through God's grace.

Go deeper 

True joy is found in giving freely and generously to others, as it reflects the heart of God Himself. Proverbs 11:25 states, "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." This principle is further emphasized in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "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."

The act of giving not only blesses others, but it also brings joy and fulfillment to the giver. Jesus himself said in Acts 20:35, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." When we give generously, we are imitating the sacrificial love of Christ, who gave His life for us (John 3:16). This act of generosity not only benefits those in need but also transforms our own hearts, making us more like Christ.

Ultimately, giving freely is an act of worship and obedience to God. As believers, we are called to be good stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us (1 Peter 4:10). When we give joyfully and generously, we are demonstrating our trust in God's provision and His faithfulness to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19). Giving freely is not only a source of joy but also a means of glorifying God and advancing His kingdom on earth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

**Restoring Relationships**

Last Tuesday, during Eskom’s Stage 6 load-shedding, I sat in my dimly lit Akasia living room, staring at a WhatsApp message from my cousin Thabo. Our once-close bond had fractured over a political debate—ANC vs. EFF—that spiraled into personal jabs. His text read: *“You’ve become a coconut, bra. Black on the outside, white-washed inside.”* My reply? A venomous *“At least I’m not a populist clown.”* Pride, that sly serpent, had coiled around our tongues.   But as the generator hummed and my coffee cooled, Colossians 3:13 flickered in my mind like a candle in the dark: *“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”* Unconditional. No asterisks. No “but he started it.” Just grace.   **II. The Theology of Broken Pipes**   South Africa knows fractures. Our Vaal River, choked by sewage and neglect, mirrors relational toxicity—grievances left to fester. Yet, Christ’s forgiveness isn’t a passive drip; it’s a flash flood. To “bear with one another” (Colossians 3:13) is to choo...
Post a Comment
Read more

**Cultivating Patience**

 ## The Divine Delay: When God Hits Pause on Your Breakthrough (From My Akasia Veranda) Brothers, sisters, let me tell you, this Highveld sun beating down on my veranda in Akasia isn’t just baking the pavement. It’s baking my *impatience*. You know the feeling? You’ve prayed, you’ve declared, you’ve stomped the devil’s head (in the spirit, naturally!), yet that breakthrough? It feels like waiting for a Gautrain on a public holiday schedule – promised, but mysteriously absent. Psalm 27:14 shouts: *"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage!"* But waiting? In *this* economy? With Eskom plunging us into darkness and the price of a loaf of bread climbing faster than Table Mountain? It feels less like divine strategy and more like celestial sabotage. I get it. Just last week, stuck in the eternal queue at the Spar parking lot (seems half of Tshwane had the same pap-and-chops craving), watching my dashboard clock tick towards yet another loadshedding slot, my ow...
Post a Comment
Read more

**Rejecting Shame Through Identity in Christ**

  I live in Akasia, Tshwane, where the jacarandas paint Pretoria’s streets with purple hope each spring. From my modest home, I watch the city hum—buses rattling down Paul Kruger Street, hawkers calling out at the Wonderpark Mall, and the chatter of students spilling from TUT’s gates. Life here is vibrant, yet beneath the surface, many of us carry an unseen weight: shame. It’s a thief that whispers lies about our worth, chaining us to past mistakes or societal labels. As a Christian writer, I’ve wrestled with this shadow myself, and I’ve learned that only one truth can break its grip—our identity in Christ. Let me take you on a journey through my own story, weaving it with the tapestry of South African life and the radiant promise of Scripture, to confront shame and embrace who we are in Him. ### A Personal Tale of Shame’s Grip A few years ago, I stood at a crossroads. I’d just lost a job I loved—a writing gig at a local magazine in Pretoria. The editor said my work was “too confro...
Post a Comment
Read more