On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 116: Giving (10/16/16)

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9: 8 RSV)

Giving is an act of love, especially when done with a cheerful heart expecting nothing in return.  After all God gave first!  He gave us Creation. He gave us life. He continues to give us every blessing in abundance and the most precious gift He had to give us, His Son. God shows us the way through giving of ourselves and our abundance to those less fortunate.

How would you answer the following question, “Which word appears most often in the bible: believe, pray, love or give?”  I believe most would say, “love.” It appears 714 times. “Believe” appears 272 times and “pray” appears 371 times. The word most frequently used is “give” - as in giving to others. It appears 2171 times! Do you think God was trying to tell us something?

Scripture tells us to give joyfully, give selflessly, give willingly, and give thankfully. St. Basil states in On Social Justice, “For if we all took only what was necessary to satisfy our own needs, giving the rest to those who lack, no one would be rich, no one would be poor, and no one would be in need . . . You are thus guilty of injustice toward as many as you might have aided, and did not.”

We read in Psalms 116: 12, “What shall I render to the Lord for all of His bounty to me?” Give back to God from the time, talent, treasure and love He has given to you!

This weekly series of brief thoughts on stewardship and Orthodox life is brought to you by your Diocesan Stewardship Commission.

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