A Measure for Giving

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give

what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,

for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV



God looks down on His children and smiles when they give aid and assistance to those who need help. A family friend owns her own business, a hair salon. She recently expanded its services. During an open house she arranged with a local charity to collect older hair appliances from clients to supply the charity with those devices to help the charity’s focus group to have a better self image.

Our friend’s sister-in-law works for a dentist. That dentist donated small toothbrushes and toothpaste to the charity. Oh, just so you know, the dentist and the hair salon are located in different parts of our county.

The nonprofit ministry I work in has sponsors for half of the children in their focus group. Each sponsor is asked to provide school supplies and a Christmas present to their sponsored child.

Several churches in our town have food pantries, most stocked by donations from their congregations. A north-side church near us sends me their newsletter. That church collects canned goods for a smaller church on the west side of town.

A few years ago, one of our relatives had a fire in her home. They lost everything. My sister-in-law called me to see if I could help gather items for them. Not long before this, our school system adopted a school uniform code. I made one phone call and received school uniforms for the daughter. These came from a lady at our church who had a girl just a bit older than the girl in need. The founder of the ministry I work with brought me book bags with school supplies for the younger two children. This lady was settling her late uncle’s estate and also brought me dishes and pots and pans for our extended family members.

One of the elderly women of the church handed me some money. We were going down to see our friends in the southern part of the state. There is an outlet mall in that county. I took the donation and added to it and purchased kitchen towels and potholders and oven mitts for the mother.

The scripture tells us God loves a cheerful giver. In each of the stories I have shared, God has blessed each of those who have extended mercy to those who were hurting and in need.

I’m certain each one of you can recall others who have reached out to comfort ones who have benefited from mercy at a time in their lives when they were hurting.