Articles
Giving and Receiving as God’s Child
Each day everyone has opportunities to give and receive gifts through words and actions. One of the best aspects of the holiday season is that it’s a time at the end of the year dedicated to giving and receiving. As God’s children, this gives us time to reflect on how we have given and received throughout the year and allows for further practice. As Christians, how are we to give and receive?
Philippians 4:15-18 says, “…when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again…I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” God’s Children must uplift others by being generous from the blessings He’s supplied to us. This is not to be done with compulsion or irresponsibility, but with a compassionate heart. Philippians 4:17 reads, “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” The apostle Paul’s motivation for being generous with his time teaching at the Philippi church was not for a reward, but to serve Christ.
Regarding receiving, the apostle shows that gifts are to be received with a humble and thankful spirit. Philippians 4:11-14 says, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.” Paul didn’t need the overwhelming generosity of the Philippians (vs. 18), yet he took the time to thank them and accepted the gifts they sent as the encouragement they were meant to be. Paul understood that gifts are meant to serve and uplift for the purpose of glorifying God.
The apostle Peter wrote, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Peter references the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit gave Christians during the early church, but this can be applied to all gifts God bestows to His children. This is because whether you’re giving, receiving, or doing anything else, we must all “…work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
