To give means to share what you have with others. Giving to others means to give a gift, to give in charity, to give alms or to make a donation. But to give to God is called giving a tithe, giving of 10 percent of your earning to God. Giving in this way is a participation in the generosity of God. God gives to us abundantly and he can’t stop giving. He does not give because we are good or bad, not because we are rich or poor, not because we are tall or short; neither does he give because of the color of our skin or the creed we profess. No. He gives because it is his nature to give.
Life has taught us that if there is anything God cannot do is that he cannot count! Or rather He does not want to count. Have you ever seen a mango tree filled with mangoes? Try to count the mangoes on that tree! Or any other fruit tree for that matter. Have you ever experienced rainfall or felt sunray or your skin? He who created us knows our needs and provides them accordingly. Hence what I am sure about tomorrow is that providence will rise before the dawn. God cannot stop giving just as he cannot stop loving. Simply put, it is not God’s nature not to give, not to love, not to bless his children providing for them at all times. God blesses some with abundance so that they too may bless their brothers and sisters. Here then is the problem. Those that God has blessed have often refused to bless others.
Many times we give with wrong intention, giving with the intention of being paid back in return. But the best gift is the one we hope for no return. Christ’s teaching is clear at this point. “But take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in streets to win the praise of others. …But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who see in secret will repay you” (Mt. 6:1-4). When we give without knowing who benefits from our generosity then our gift becomes a blessing even unto ourselves. Christ has words of wisdom to confirm this. Listen: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you”, (Lk. 6:38).
Another important point to note about giving is that when we give, it is really to God that we give. To demonstrate this point a story taken from life’s lesson is apt here. A legend has it that one day while riding his steed, St. Francis came upon a beggar who was also a leper, shivering in the cold. On impulse, Francis got down from his horse, embraced the beggar, and wrapped his coat around him. That night St. Francis dreamed that he died. In heaven he saw Jesus sitting on his throne, wearing the coat. Jesus assures us, “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me”, (Mt. 25:40). Let us give for it better to give than to receive. I will conclude this posting with the prayer of St. Francis. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. Tomorrow’s posting will be on giving to God – Tithe.
It is better to give than to receive. We help those in need through disasters, sadness, illness and we do this without hesitation when we hear of someone who needs our help. We are all God's children and when we help others by giving a gift or donation for the needy, this is making us and God happy.
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