We are entering that time of year when we seem to think more
about giving than usual. November brings an emphasis on giving thanks, and
December brings the giving of gifts. A common verse related to giving that is
often quoted, even by those who do not believe in Jesus, is part of Acts 20:35,
where Paul quotes Jesus, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to
receive.” This verse is used to
encourage the cultivating of a giving spirit, but the way we interpret these
words often has the added effect of discouraging a receiving spirit. It’s as if
we attach an addendum to the phrase, reading it as if it said, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive, so be sure you’re giving and not receiving.”
But is that really what the verse is saying?
First of all, we shouldn’t add anything to Scripture, so the
fact that there is no addendum should
be the first major clue that Jesus was not telling us to avoid receiving. But
aside from that clue, we should look elsewhere in the Bible, because the best
place to go for insight on how to interpret a passage of Scripture is another
passage of Scripture.
One such passage where we can look to shed light on the
giving/receiving idea is 2 Corinthians 8. Paul is telling the Corinthians about
the generosity of the Macedonians and encouraging them to give in kind. In
explaining the extent of the Macedonians’ generosity, Paul writes in verses 3
and 4, “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond
their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking
part in the relief of the saints” (ESV).
These verses, like the ones in Acts are reinforcing the idea
that giving is good. But notice how Paul describes the Macedonian view of
giving. They wanted “the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.”
There were fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in need, and the Macedonians
wanted to be part of the blessing of meeting those needs. They gave; others
received; and all were blessed by it. But what if those in need had refused to
receive what the Macedonians gave? Not only would they still have been in need,
but the Macedonians would have been robbed of the blessing of giving.
Over and over again, I have seen this hypothetical scenario
play out in reality—Christians are in need, but they refuse to receive help,
sometimes even refusing to reveal their need in the first place. Perhaps this refusal
comes as an effect of the Church’s focus on giving with the implied notion that
receiving is bad. Perhaps it stems from deep-seated pride (heaven forbid we
admit a weakness or acknowledge some deficiency on our part). Perhaps it is
rooted in a misguided sense of self-sufficiency that is only encouraged by our
individualistic, “American-dream,” pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps
cultural mentality (heaven forbid we meet something that we cannot fix or solve
or provide for on our own). Perhaps it emerges from a well-intentioned desire
not to be a burden to others.
Whatever the reason, it is all-too-often the case that we in
the Church are hesitant to or even adamantly against making our needs known to
our family in Christ, whether they be physical or spiritual. If pride and
self-sufficiency are our reasons, then repentance is in order. And if the
reason is the thought that receiving help is equivalent to being a burden, we
should broaden our view. What we fail to
realize when we refuse to receive, whatever our reason, is that not only is our
stubbornness and pride keeping us from having our needs met, but it is also robbing
our brothers and sisters of the opportunity to be obedient to Christ by giving
and of the blessing that comes with this generous obedience.
I am reminded of an inner-city ministry that I once was a
part of, which was largely run by volunteers from the church every Saturday.
The operation had many moving parts and required a good deal of organization.
One day, someone approached the leader with an observation that there was a way
to streamline the process, reducing the number of volunteers needed to
successfully fulfill the ministry’s objective. The leader’s response has always
stuck with me. To paraphrase, he said that, yes, this observer was probably
right but that the purpose of this ministry was not merely to serve the
inner-city community but also to provide church members with an opportunity to
serve, to be in the inner-city and see the needs firsthand. Simplifying the
process would make it more efficient, yes, but it would reduce the number of
people who would experience giving to those in need.
Similarly, how often does our refusal to ask for or receive
help keep others from fulfilling the ministry of giving? And, really, if we
stop to think about it, how can those of us who are in Christ legitimately be
proud enough to refuse aid, physical or spiritual, from obedient human hands? Have
we not received the most humbling gift of all—unearned and undeserved salvation
from God Himself? So whenever we are tempted to keep our needs to ourselves, let
us put our pride to death, remember the cross of Jesus Christ, and reach out to
our family of faith, the community that God has given us. In doing so, we will
not only open the door for ourselves to receive, but we will also be giving the
opportunity to give, thus blessing those who bless us.
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