It’s not what we have, But what we give

By Ilyana Sithole

In a world so easily consumed by acquiring things, where the hackneyed “he who dies with the most toys wins” seems to ring in our ears all around us, it’s easy to forget what a rich life really is. But, as the old saying so sagely reminds us, “you can’t take it with you.” So if our wealth here on this earth is transitory, then where do we go to look for real wealth and real happiness?

For centuries now, the wisdom traditions across the globe have been pointing in the other direction – not to the receiving, but to the giving. It’s an impulse which has been so aptly described in the much-quoted proverb, “it is better to give than to receive.” It is a cliché rather than trite; it’s a profound insight which appeals to human experience and is abundantly substantiated by secular wisdom, as well as sacred scripture.

Consider this: who among us hasn’t experienced the unspoken, unstated joy of an undeserved kindness, or the rich sense of completion of assisting another in his or her moment of need? As rightly remarked by Mother Teresa, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” It’s not how much in excess of quantity or wealth, but with what ardor of heart, be little the offering. A listening ear, a gentle word, sharing a meal – little things that in the end carry the greatest significance.

This is not so much a recommendation to Christians but one of the foundations of their religion. The Bible contains numerous verses stating the blessedness of the open heart that gives freely. In Acts 20:35, the quote of Jesus is used: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is not talking about money, though that’s addressed. It’s giving of our time, our talents, our mercy, and our forgiveness.

And consider Proverbs 11:25, too: “A kind person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” That’s the rhetoric of a God economy in which giving increases rather than diminishes. It is upside-down world thinking, one that people have found to be true in their own lives, though. For, as the saying goes, “what goes around, comes around,” and frequently what we sow in liberality reap a harvest of unanticipated blessing.

And another strong warning comes in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Every one must give what he has purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a willing giver.” What the Bible is saying here is about the motivation behind the giving. Grudgingly giving or obligation giving diminishes the act. Good giving is from a willing and joyful heart, an acknowledgment that everything we have is really a gift that we are to manage and dispense.

So whether you do or don’t believe in one or no religions, and whether you do or don’t want to live a more exciting or just a richer life, the message is the same: true richness of life is not what you have, but how far you give, and how intensely you feel. As we ride through life, never forgetting that “a penny saved is a penny earned,” but a penny shared in love is riches beyond rubies. Let us make it our effort to live by the old adage that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

A Prayer for Generosity
Our heavenly Father, thank You for blessings You have given to us. Open our eyes to see needs around us, and open our hearts to give in unselfishness. Teach us to see that true wealth is not that which we can keep but that which we can share. Bless us to be joyful givers of our treasure, talents, and time, that we may be servants of Your love here on earth. Lead us to go in the truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Amen.