Hilarious Giver
by Pam Smith
Whenever we visited my mother, she would always have something to give us. She had such a wonderful, loving and generous heart. It may have only been some coupons from the newspaper or roses from the garden or some left over cakes, but she just longed to give something to show her love.
The Lord really loves a cheerful giver. In one translation it gives another root of this verb meaning ‘hilarious giving,’ which really describes how the Lord wants us to give.
There are no rules about giving when we are under the law of love. God doesn’t mind if we wish to give fifty per cent rather than ten percent to Him, as long as it’s given joyfully and with the knowledge that everything we have comes from Him in the first place.
As believers we have much to give to others. Maybe we aren’t aware of all the gifts we’ve been given. They’ve been given to us to give away! Maybe we aren’t aware of the hidden needs of those we live amongst. Some need the peace of Jesus; or healing, forgiveness, freedom, encouragement, or comfort. Sometimes we can give material things that people need, and by so giving we find a way that can touch their deeper, hidden need. May the Lord keep us alert in the spirit to what people’s real needs are.
When we come together in fellowship, do we come with our ‘baskets’ full, ready to share with that lonely one, that empty or hungry soul who’s longing for a special touch or word? ‘Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification’(1 Corinthians, 14:26), for the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given that we might build one another up. Let’s be ‘hilarious and loving givers’.
Though we can never repay the debt of love we owe the Lord for the rich and full life
He has given us in His Son, ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’
(2 Corinthians 9:15). As George Matheson writes, my prayer is;
O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee, I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. Amen.
Pam Smith has a background in art and nursing, has a son and two daughters and six grandchildren. She has been a friend and helper of Ellel Ministries since l992, and has been involved with Healing Through Creativity Courses. As writer of the Shepherd Love Series, she has a passion for the comfort and encouragement that leads people towards enjoying abundant Life in Jesus.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
