Three Sundays ago, and for two Sundays, God began to admonish us to stir up the gift of giving that is inside us. We were reminded in two sermons that giving blesses not only the receiver, but also God, those He causes to hear about it, and the giver Himself – for which reason we should stir up the gift of giving.

Giving blesses the receiver by supplying their needs, it blesses God by Him being glorified, and it blesses the giver by for example being prayed for (2 Corinthians 9:12-14). Giving also blesses other people by God inspiring them, by the example of givers, to also be generous (2 Corinthians 9:2).

Last Sunday, we were reminded that giving by itself, if it is not motivated by love and accompanied by a love-walk, will not benefit the giver. As it is written, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). More so, God hates that kind of giving that is devoid of love. As it is written elsewhere, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 15:8).

Therefore, as we obey God in stirring up the gift of giving, let us not neglect love. Then our giving will be “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God,” (Philippians 4:18), and He will bless us (2 Corinthians 9:7-8), and He will motivate people, by our giving, to also be generous (2 Corinthians 9:2).

God bless you.