One of the wonderful aspects of humanity that occurs year-round without end is that of giving. People give of their finances, time and attention to others in their birthdays, weddings, graduations, births, illnesses, charities and at Christmas. Giving is one of the attributes which distinguishes humans from animals–they basically take; people give.
In the language in which the NT was written, there are seventeen different words used to describe giving–a giving which God has done, and a giving which man is to do. Consider the giving of God, and the giving of man:
THE GIVING OF GOD:
I will give you rest (Mat 11:28).
My peace I give unto you (John 14:27).
To give light to them that sit in darkness (Luke 1:79).
To give knowledge of salvation (Luke 1:77).
The Son of man came…to give his life a ransom for many (Mat 20:28).
To give…forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31).
I give unto them eternal life (John 10:28).
THE GIVING OF MAN:
Give to him that needeth (Eph 4:28).
Give to the poor (Mat 19:21).
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).
Giving thanks always for all things unto God (Eph 5:20).
As we consider that which God has given us, we are truly in debt and no amount of giving on our part could ever begin to “pay back” that which we have received. Nevertheless, as “freely [as] ye have received, [we are to] freely give” (Mat 10:8 ), while we “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Gary Henson