33- Giving

 

St-Takla.org Image: The widow's mite (Mark 12: 41-44; Luke 21: 1-4), while Jesus Christ and the disciples watching - Engraving by Gustave Doré. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: الأرملة ذات الفلسين: فلسي الأرملة (مرقس 12: 41-44؛ لوقا 21: 1-4)، ونرى السيد المسيح والتلاميذ يشاهدون الموقف - رسم الفنان جوستاف دوريه.

The spiritual man gives first from his heart, with all his love, before he gives from his possessions or from his pocket. His giving is just an expression of his hearty sharing in the needs of people and the needs of the church.

But some people give without feelings, just to literally carry out the commandment...!

They forget the saying of the Holy Bible: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 19:7).. Giving starts from the heart, and not just from the hand. The spiritual giver is the one who rejoices when he gives, because he feels that he has shared in making people happy, or took the blessing of sharing in the needs of the church.

But some settle their accounts with God in a difficult way!!

They stick to the tithes, that is if they paid them! They examine their accounts carefully, so what they are giving would not exceed the tenth. They may even include the tithes in some of their social duties towards relatives or friends or what they were forced to pay on certain occasions for some projects for the service.

And it shows that the heart is not sharing in the giving.

The love of the needy is not connected to giving. It may even be accompanied by some harsh investigation or may be scolding for the poor and may be some haughtiness and pride. This giving may even be delayed for a long time.

We think that we are giving, and we forget the phrase: “Of Your own we have given You” (1 Chron 29:14). As if giving was just a tax that we are forced to pay.