The Gift of Giving

Well, I was raised in the church and so often you learn about spiritual gifts. One of the spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8 is the gift of giving. I never thought that I had this gift because we were always broke or I was paying bills, paying off debt, or just not being a good steward with what God blessed me with. I would always have an earnest desire to give people money to help them out but I thought I couldn't afford it at the time. As I mentioned in my last post, I got a raise. Yay! And regardless of my bill paying, debt paying outlook, I'm walking in my gift of giving. It is a legitimate gift. I not only want to get rich because ...who doesn't but also to be a blessing to people. Poverty is a curse and as much as you say you love people, it's nothing like putting some much needed cash in someone's hand. So I've been walking in my gift and loving it. I'm in a West Coast City but I've been sending checks back home to people who have sowed into my life in ways I couldn't afford to put a price tag on. The little bit I can give to make their life a little better is a blessing and I owe it all to God and his blessing. He gave me the job right? I haven't found a church home so there's no place to tithe yet so there's extra money to bless people (but God is dealing with me on that. The Body here needs a blessing too).

Do You Have This Gift?

• Do you tend to see the needs of others more than other people do?
• Do you enjoy giving your time, talent, and treasure to others?
• Do you see giving to a worthwhile project as an exciting honor and privilege?
• Do you give to the church regularly, cheerfully, and sacrificially?
• Do you often hear people commenting that you are a generous person?

• Do you find yourself looking for opportunities to give your money—even when no one asks? 

Then you might be a giver. So often other financial obligations get in the way of walking in your gift. This gift is not like teaching or encouragement, or any of the other gifts mentioned in Scripture. You have to have the physical means to carry out the duty. Nonetheless, if I could do it again, I would have walked in my gift sooner but my mind was fixated on my other obligations that I technically was being disobedient. I'm now able to give well but when I was 'going through' I could've slipped $40 into that single mother's hand at my church. I could've given a $40 gift certificate to a nail salon to that mother with the 10 kids to get her nails and feet done.  I could've gave something. If giving might be your gift, start walking in it with the money you do have. Too often, the devil bullies us into not doing what God has callled us to do and givers are called just as much as all the other gifts are called and...giving is a part of receiving. I have noticed that the more I'm walking in my gift the less tight I feel. You know what I mean. I'm not counting down to the next payday (although I do wish they came faster...lol). How strange is that? God is literally enlarging my finances to continue not only walking in my gift but paying down my personal debt as well. Somebody say hallelujah.