In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35
“A generous person knows how to be loving and understanding and how to give material help – without demanding love, understanding, or help in return. He or she gives and forgets he or she has given, and in this lies his or her riches. He or she has understood that it is better to give than to receive. He or she realizes that to love is in its essence to give oneself to others. Far from being an instinctive inclination, love is a conscious decision of the will to draw close to other people. To be able to love truly, it is important to be detached from everything and, especially from self, to give gratuitously.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 1 (London: Scepter, 1988) 192.
As I revisit the journey of the generous almsgiver, I find insight today from Fernandez to detach from things and from self. This makes so much sense when you think about it.
The generous person essentially shifts from living for self or living for things to living for God and others. This positions the person to give “free of charge” or gratuitously.
As we enter a season that has everything from materialistic shopping to pausing to give thanks, ponder with me what detachment looks like. It says, I need not things, but only one thing: God.
Others need Him too, so I make the conscious decision to show His all sufficiency by living for them and Him gratuitously. I find refreshment and joy in the journey so I stay the course.
Others may also join because it is better to give than receive. It’s the better way. Regardless of the difficulties or challenges, I make known my needs to God and stay on this path. It’s the path of generosity and love.