Blessed

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship. (Acts 20:29–38)

Paul alone gives us Jesus’ words that it is “more blessed” to give than to receive. Perhaps it is no surprise that those who have enough that they can afford to give it away are happier than those who are in need. Needy people, after all, are dissatisfied people. But there’s more to it than that. When we give, we are thinking about someone other than ourselves. By focusing on the needs of others, we shift our attention off our own problems. Loving others, doing for others, thinking about others can be very invigorating. How many times did Jesus and his disciples discover renewed strength as they reached out to the crowds, despite being worn out?

Blessing does not come from accumulating wealth, but rather from sharing it. Jesus’ words are a warning against becoming selfish. It is so easy for us to become locked up in our own concerns and to forget about the concerns of others. True happiness comes as we spend ourselves and our resources on those around us, learning to forget about ourselves in our concern for the needs of others. Somehow, in meeting the needs of other people, we will be surprised at how our own needs are also being met.

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