Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
“What is your motivation for giving? Is it to freely give or to give expecting something in return? This is an ongoing tension for the generous giver. We give… time… expertise… money… friendship…commitment; we give our very life, with what expectation in mind? Disappointment follows gifts with strings attached, but gifts given freely lead to fulfillment…
You may ask, “What about my stewardship in giving gifts responsibly?” Wise givers give prayerfully and responsibly, but not to the exclusion of the Spirit’s leading. If the Lord is leading you to invest time and money in a person, ministry, or church, then obey and trust Him with the outcome. Everything we have is His; so He is ultimately responsible for the fruit of generosity.”
Boyd Bailey in “Wisdom Hunter” blog post for March 2, 2013.
I like how Bailey reminds us that the fruit of any generosity we participate in belongs to the One who provided the resources for the generosity to begin with. For us to find fulfillment in all this, it will be because we realize that we get to be a part of the cycle of provision and blessing, a cycle He invites all of us to participate in. God help us find fulfillment as conduits of spiritual and material blessings. May we lavish Your love everywhere we go with no strings attached.