It is Better to Give

Mother’s Day is celebrated in the month of May, though the United Kingdom celebrates Mum’s Day in March. Whichever month this very special day is celebrated, my topic today “It is Better to Give” reminds me of mums’ effortless giving. I haven’t known any mum who does not live by this motto, “It is better to give.”

I will not enumerate why this topic aptly applies to mums because I believe we all know that mums would give everything and anything for their children. Rather, I will enumerate some reasons why we sometimes refrain from giving. That is, we forget our mother instinct and emotions when it comes to giving to people other than our children.

Why do people sometimes find it difficult to give?

People find it difficult to give because of short-sightedness.
We must look beyond the short term; that is losing something when we give. We should think of the benefits that we will receive as we give today. A buyer asked for a discount but was rejected. Unknowingly the customer who asked for a discount intends to buy in bulk. Had the seller probed and developed a relationship with the customer, he could have known the possibilities of growing his business in the long term.

People find it hard to give because they think they deserve to hold on to what they've worked so hard for.
You refuse to give (share) part of your earnings to help the poor because you believe you deserve to enjoy what you worked hard for. True, but then giving is a way of acknowledging God’s gift to you - the gift of strength, wisdom, and good health to work.

People find it hard to give because they think that the recipient is not worthy of the gift. Are we worthy of God’s gift of talents and skills that allow us to earn a living or even build our wealth? If God were to hold His blessings depending on our worthiness, would anyone receive His blessings? In as much as God gives because He loves us, we must likewise do the same. We give not because of the worthiness of the recipient. Give because it is the right thing to do - to honor the deserving, to help the needy, to be a blessing, to show our love to God and to mankind.

People find it hard to give because they think they have nothing more to give.

You think you are not able to give much to your children. But you give more than material things to your children. You give them your love and your time. You are not able to give much benefit to your workers. But you give them importance and your time to advise them on any issues. You may not have the capacity to give financially now but look at the other resources that you have. Surely, you will find something to give to someone.  

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" is worth thinking about and doing. As Proverbs 11:24 says, "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." Why withhold giving if you will not become wealthy by withholding? Why withhold giving when your giving will give joy to someone? Give the way a mum gives to her children.