As we enter the month of December and the Christmas season, I’d like to explore the spirit of giving.
When I think of giving, especially this time of year, I think of God.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:16.
He gave. He gave His best. He gave His one and only Son. He gave Him for me. He gave Him for you. No strings attached. A gift. A free gift. A gift to pay for our sins; past, present and future on the cross through the blood of Jesus. A gift that allows us to be reconciled to God. A gift that offers me eternity in heaven. Done. There is nothing I can do to earn the gift. And that, I believe, is the spirit of giving. We give out of love. We give with no strings attached. With give without expectation of getting anything in return.
But I certainly haven’t always thought that way about giving.
I grew up not learning anything about money; spending, saving, or giving. If I needed something, money was given to me in the form of cash or even a blank check. Nothing was ever discussed about it. I’m pretty sure mom gave something at church each week, but that too, was never discussed. There were always lots of gifts for us on our birthdays and Christmas. But I never saw giving to others outside of our family or to someone in need. That was totally foreign to me.
As I got a little older and married, we moved away. Our neighbors lived the spirit of giving. She sent her kids and ours to shovel and mow another neighbors yard in return for nothing. What?? People she didn’t know were able to use their house. Are you kidding me?? She took in a young boy from the inner city that had little chance of even graduating from high school and she poured her time, talent, treasure and touch into him. Who does that?? I had surgery. People brought me some meals. Never heard of such a thing. A friend lost his job right before Christmas. Other friends started collecting money for the family for gifts. They asked me to give. Ugh…I gave something…begrudgingly.
I certainly didn’t have a spirit of giving.
We eventually moved to Minnesota. It was here that I heard and understood the gospel. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I started to read God’s Word.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; – Psalm 24:1
Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest. – Proverbs 3:9
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
I had no idea that God had so much to say about giving.
The Holy Spirit began to work on me. We began to give more generously at church. We began to support a child through World Vision. We gave to a missionary.
I began to have joy in giving!
Throughout my years at Friendship Church I have seen the spirit of giving over and over. Sacrifice to pay off our debt and renovate our Prior Lake Campus. Cars given to people in need. House payments made for someone. Envelopes of cash handed to a pastor to give as God leads. Meals, rides, a place to live provided to people with need. People with little financial means, giving out of their poverty.
It’s easy to get into the spirit of giving during the Christmas season, but God calls us to this lifestyle on a daily basis and I believe He will put opportunities in front of us each and every day.
Do you know Him? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Have you received the free gift He wants to give you? If not, consider the verses below.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. – Romans 10: 9-10.
Today, you could be the recipient of the true spirit of giving.
Lori McCormick
Lori was born and raised on a farm in eastern Iowa, the oldest of seven kids. Her mom was faithful in taking the kids to church every Sunday and worked hard to have the church rules followed. But it wasn’t until a move to Minnesota in 2003 brought Lori and her husband Denny to Friendship Church and the Alpha Course that the pieces of the puzzle came together, and Lori came to faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In November of 2004 she started on staff and currently serves as the Connections Director. Denny and Lori have 3 kids, 1 son-in-law and 3 awesome grandkids. Lori enjoys time with family and friends, gardening, sports (especially pickleball), warm weather and helping in the family business.