The Joy of Giving

 

You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:7 (TPT)

I grew up as an ungenerous person. Perhaps it was because I didn’t come from a wealthy family. My parents had to raise four of us and they just had enough to go each month with my dad’s salary. So when I started working full time, it was the time for me to buy anything I ever wanted with my own money. The focus of my salary is for me, myself and I. I was so determined to build my own wealth. Though I was already a Christian, I was still reluctant to give a lot offering to people in need and I didn’t normally give an expensive gift for my friend’s birthday. My mentality back then was I gave because I had to and not that I wanted to. This has continued until I have my children.

However as time goes by and after going through more life experiences with God, I am slowly changed. While in the past I only loved to receive and didn’t like to give, now I feel it is actually more joyful to give than to receive. I used to think, when I give something to someone, I expect in return from that same person someday. But now, I enjoy giving to people who is unable to return back to me because it is my joy that I can bless them. The more I can give, the more satisfied I have become.

I would like to share a story when God intervened in my longing to bless the poor in my neighborhood. I love how God knows my heart and I felt as if He is my partner in my ‘giving project’ to others.

Sometimes end of November, I saw a post in Facebook in my news feed from the community group I joined asking for food. This lady worked very hard for a living and she has struggled to buy food for the family and humbly asked for the kindness of people to donate food for her. My heart was moved but her location was a bit far. Also that day I had no food at home. I was in dilemma whether or not I should give. While my heart wanted to give, my body said otherwise because of the long distance from my home. So I decided not to response to that post. I felt a bit guilty on that night, thinking I could have blessed this family but I didn’t do it because of my laziness.

But God is God of second chances. Two weeks later, sometimes in December when I was on the train after picking up my children from school, I browsed through Facebook again and another person from the same group asking for food as well for her family. She said she just lost her job and it has been tough for her to feed her family of 5. She gave the lists of food i.e. milk, bread, cereal, noodle, etc if anyone was generous to donate to her. I looked at the comments from people to check if there is anyone was going to donate food to her, but no one offered to send food. All the comments provided ideas and suggestions where she can get the food from. Her location was near from my house so I knew that I had no excuse not to send food.

On that very day, I was also expecting my online grocery to be delivered to my house. I ordered milk,  bread, and other stuffs. The delivery was scheduled to arrive at my place in the afternoon around 5 pm so I had enough food to give to this family. Also I happened to be cooking butter chicken for dinner for my family and found out that I had defrosted too much chicken. I couldn’t put them back to the freezer so I had not choice but to cook a lot of chicken. When I learnt this family needed food, I was happy because I could share my butter chicken to them. I quickly cooked enough plain rice for them to eat as well with the dish.

The interesting part was, I only ordered 1 loaf of bread from the online supermarket. She requested bread. I was in dilemma whether or not I should give the bread to this family because I need this for my children’s breakfast. I then decided not to give them the bread. However when the order arrived, to my surprise I found 2 loaves of bread in my shopping bag and the driver has left. All my shopping was correct except they mistakenly gave 2 bread for me. I was amazed how God really cared for my ‘small’ dilemma and He fixed it for me. This is also to remind me that God also cared for this family. He wanted this family to have bread for their breakfast too.

From this story I learnt, that God always gives us opportunity to decide to do good for others. He let us make decision on every opportunity. When we missed it, He will continue to give us other opportunities. And when we have decided to do good things for others, God will intervene for us like the story of the bread above. If we think that God doesn't care about the little things, we are wrong. Every little thing if it matters to us, it will matter to Him as well and He will show it to us to let us know He cares.

Christmas is a time to give, we normally prepare gifts for people we care i.e. our good friends, family members. How about you give yourself a time to think who you can bless apart from your love ones? Is there anyone outside of your circle that you can think of, who needs your blessing this Christmas?

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope this Christmas spirit will inspire us to be a generous giver.