Every Christmas, or rather the weeks leading up to it, my mother would ask for my Christmas List. As a child, I did not find it difficult to make one. I applaud anyone who, at a young age, would have asked for the money to be spent for the benefit of others through charity. Giving gifts can be an expression of love especially when family is involved. When we bring our gifts to Jesus or set aside money for His work how do we calculate how much to give?
Malachi 3:8
"Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings."
From this verse, we can conclude that we are not just to give tithe but also offerings. So again how much are we to give? A tithe is 10 percent but what about offerings?
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Have you ever found that the more you give the more you receive? I have heard of such things, and experienced such at times myself. This is not to say that you need to give away everything and then be a burden to others.
2 Thessalonians 3:8
…nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you…
As in most things a balance seems in order. A balance that perhaps teeters on the generous side. I heard once that if you see something you like in a shop window that you should pass it by several times to make sure you really want it before you buy it. Impulse buys can be hard on your wallet. And one thing I need to ask myself more is do I really need this? Will my life really be better with it than without it?
And if your family is open to giving gifts to each other in the form of gifts to charities then I would suggest you try it out or at least talk about it. There are many good works we can do that are not necessarily through the church, however there are numerous projects you can give to within the church. And we always have our various mission projects still available: Adventist Frontier Ministries – George and Teresa; Chapels for India; and recently ACS Hurricane Relief.
Do NOT feel guilty because you think someone else is giving more money that you or giving to more charities than you. As the scripture says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” If you can’t be happy about it, then you will not be honoring God with your gift. Would your spouse appreciate a gift you give to them if you are not happy to give it? Or are you happy to receive a gift if the giver doesn't look like they really want to give it to you? God has given us all we have in the hopes that we will use His blessings wisely and with love in our hearts.
Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
***EXTRA***
And if you are already giving all that you have desire to give then focus on giving someone a pick-me-up. Is your spouse having a hard day? Are you having a hard day? Then turn it around and even if they don’t want to talk write them a nice note and put it in their purse or wallet. Somewhere they will find it. If possible choose to fix their favorite meal or do a chore that is normally theirs to do. Make small talk with the cashier, treat them like they are human and worthy of attention. Call someone you haven't talked to in a while and see how they are doing. Your time and your talents do not replace giving of tithe and offerings but they are just as important in our Christian walk. Choose to focus on others and you’ll find yourself rising out of your bad mood and most likely your act of kindness with benefit the other person as well.