Giving

Teach us to give and not to count the cost.

Saint Ignatius 

If you are struggling in life one of the reasons  is you might be struggling being generous. 

Living to give may or may not involve money.

 Positive emotion (acceptance, forgiveness, love etc) is far more valuable than money as money cannot buy it.

Truth is more valuable than money.

Time is more valuable than money. 

Life is more valuable then money.

All you are is more valuable than all you own. 

How can you give something away when you do not have it?  

The desire to give to others comes when we receive  an understanding of what we have already been given.  The understanding that we are  not the source of our house, our car, our job etc and that we have received our house, our car, our job etc makes it possible to give. 

   In order to understand what has already been given to us we first need to receive an understanding of the nature of God.  

We need to receive an understanding that God wants to and has already given to us more than anyone we have or will ever meet.    He wants to provide for us more than we want to provide for our children or our friends. He wants to give to us more than we want to receive.

Once we trust God, we will be more able to cease to rely on what we "own". This will free us up from the fear of lack and we will naturally become generous. 

Giving also involves giving to God.  God  in his heart wants you more than He wants Himself. God in His heart  wants to give to you more than He wants to give to Himself. 

When you know this, I believe you will find it a lot more easier to give to God and to others of you.  

Genesis 28:22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Deuteronomy 26:11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.

2 Samuel 9:3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

1 Chronicles 29:3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:

Proverbs 11:24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

1 Chronicles 29:16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Jeremiah 33:9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’

Daniel 4:32

' the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.'

Job 42:10

After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

2 Chronicles 1:11-12

God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,

therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."

Deuteronomy 15: 7-11 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.