Giving is Better than Receiving

I have often heard that saying: giving is better than receiving. And I have long believed it to be true. But the collection of things I own would suggest I also really like receiving.

We have come to the end of Month 3 in the grand 7 experiment. This month was all about possessions and giving them away. Jen opted to give away 7 items a day for a total of 210 items over the course of the month. Unlike her, I am not a family of 5 living in a house. I'm a single girl living in a bedroom. I figured I wouldn't have that much to give away.

But then I cleaned out my closet.

Remember the number of clothes I said I had?

Yeah. I reduced that by more than half. Much of it doesn't fit me any more. But most of it is still wearable. So I've given it away. Some to Goodwill. Some to an organization here in Georgia that works with single moms and their kids who are victims of domestic abuse.

In addition to the clothes, I pulled out purses, shoes, bags, and even some books (gasp!) to help these women and their families start a new life.

I prayed over everything before I sent it off, asking God to use it show His love to the recipients.

Jen shared a story in the book about providing household items for a single mom. After receiving all these items, this woman could look around her and know that God loved her because He had provided.

I loved what Jen wrote as she processed the lesson from that experience:

"Sometimes the best way to bring good news to the poor is to bring actual good news to the poor. It appears a good way to bring relief to the oppressed is to bring real relief to the oppressed. It's almost what Jesus meant what He said. When you're desperate, usually the best news you can receive is food, water, shelter. These provisions communicate God's presence infinitely more than a tract or Christian performance in the local park. They convey, 'God loves you so dearly, He sent people to your rescue.'"

I want to remember that moving forward, to see every opportunity to give as an opportunity to be a part of God showing His love to someone who desperately needs it.

The best part about this month was seeing God's perfect timing at work.

I bought a new computer in September. Because of doing 7, I knew I wanted to give away my old computer. I had some ideas as to where it should go, but God had an even better idea. As the "old" computer sat under my desk gathering dust, God was putting a plan into motion that would bless my heart in ways I couldn't have imagined.

Two days before we started Possessions month, my best friend posted on Facebook that her computer had literally fried (like, with smoke coming out of it and everything) in the midst of writing a paper for midterms. It took me two days to realize I had the solution sitting under my desk. Instead of giving my computer away to a stranger, I got to give it to someone I dearly loved. I got to be a part of easing her stress a little as she balances work & school with being a wife & a mom. How cool is God?

So here's my challenge to you: What do you have just sitting in your house that you could give away? Ask God to help you see those things and to see the opportunities He's presenting for you to give them to someone who truly needs them. I guarantee it's better than receiving!