Which is better, to give or to receive?

The Scriptures say, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

And indeed, giving is the more comfortable thing for most of us to do. It is consistent with our family upbringing and with cultural norms. We feel good when we are the givers. Perhaps we even secretly congratulate ourselves on how noble and altruistic we are.

In this week's message, Pastor Paul Blacker points out that there is another side to the question of giving and receiving.

How do you respond, he asks, when someone - for whatever reason - wants to bless you or help you in some way in a spirit of generosity?

Are you embarrassed?

Do you make a polite protest that you should not receive the gift (as those of us who are Asians are wont to do!)?

Do you try to give it back, or refuse to accept a shout (i.e. a treat) when out for a meal?

This is a very real issue, and one we ourselves faced this week. A dear friend went home after a month's stay with our family, and surprised us with an amazing love gift.

Pastor Paul explains that just as we are sometimes challenged to give for the sake of others, so too, we may be challenged to receive a blessing from another.

There is a profound lesson to be learnt here.

It's about the circle of life, about how so much of life functions in pairs of opposites.

Yin and Yang. Black and white. The tide ebbs and flows. The moon waxes and wanes. The sun rises and sets. Death and life. Good and evil.

So too with giving and receiving.

The LORD may inspire you to bless this person at this time through an act of giving.

At another time, the LORD may inspire someone else to be the channel through which His grace and generosity can touch you.

So is it better to give or to receive?

Does it even matter?

I remember some years ago our home church PLCMC had this motto: Blessed To Be A Blessing.

It is God who blesses, in order that we might be a blessing to others.

If today we are called to receive, let us do so with glad and thankful hearts, recognizing the true Source of the blessing, and rejoicing with the giver in this opportunity to partake of His grace.
If we are called to give, let us do so with glad and thankful hearts, knowing that it is God from whom all blessings flow.