Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
“The whole Bible shows that the angels are happy beings; far happier than we can conceive. (1) They are holy beings — ever doing God’s commandments. Now, holiness and happiness are inseparable. (2) They are in heaven —always in the smile of their Father. They “do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven;” they must be happy — no tear on their cheek, no sigh in their bosom. (3) They are represented as praising God — one crying to another, “Holy, holy, holy,” and singing, “Worthy is the Lamb.” Now, singing praises is a sign of mirth and gladness. “Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.”
Now, I want you to see that the happiness of these happy spirits consists in giving. They all give: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation?” Upon the earth, very few people give; most people like to receive money; to keep it, to lay it up in the bank, to see it becoming more and more. There are only a few people that give — these often not the richest; but in heaven all give. It is their greatest pleasure. Search every dwelling of every angel — you will not find one hoard among them all. They are all ministering spirits.”
Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843) in “More Blessed to Give Than to Receive” Sermon 82 on Acts 20:35 in The Works of the Late Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne, Vol. 2, Sermons (New York: Robert Carter, 1847) 477.
In this sermon on the only “traditional” saying of Jesus not recounted in the Gospels — “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 — McCheyne reminds us that giving is the greatest pleasure of the inhabitants of heaven. They are happy because they are doing what God made them to do.
What about you and me? Are we ministering givers that reflect the happiness of heaven? The angels of heaven exhibit the generosity of God. On this Lord’s day, let us contemplate what this means for those of us who claim our citizenship in heaven. As the Holy Spirit stirs within you, give like heaven!