As we read God’s promises in the Bible, we turn our prayers and actions toward what we can receive. That is not bad, but we must also remember that sometimes you have to be determined to give.

We want more money. We want more free time or less alone time. We want, want, want… It’s good to know what we want and to go and take possession of the blessings God has prepared for us. Joshua even confronted the people of Israel who were not going to seek what God had promised to them. “So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3 NIV). In the New Testament, Jesus also encouraged us to ask God for everything we need. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV).

Why not try another approach? Why not try… to give more?

Obviously, we cannot give what we have not received. But instead of seeking to receive to be fulfilled, why not try to seek to receive to be able to give? As the psalmist says, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5b NIV). To “overflow” onto others, you must first be filled. It is once filled with the love of God that we can love others healthily. It is when we realize that God has completely forgiven us that we can forgive others. But instead of stopping at ourselves, when we are fulfilled, we can consider how we can now give to others what we have received.

Better yet, we can give even if it requires a sacrifice. “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (Luke 3:11 NIV). Jesus truly honored this attitude of giving even what we think is necessary (Mark 12:41-44). Because God pours out His blessing, especially on those who are generous. “And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity” (2 Corinthians 9:10 GNT). God gives to the sower, therefore, to those who are ready to give.

Let’s make a new resolution to give more of our time. Let’s plan a day where we will care for an elderly person, where we will edify a young convert, where we will look after the children of a single mother. Let us resolve to give more money; whether at our church, in different ministries, or community organizations. That may require an adjustment to our budget, but our generosity will return to us. “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV).

Of course, let’s resolve to give more of Jesus. Before giving our opinion, let us pass this opinion through the filter of the Spirit. “Would Jesus say such words?” Before we claim our due, we can ask ourselves if Jesus has not given us more (Luke 6:29). Before we plan a second night of television this week, let’s ask the Holy Spirit if He would prefer to see us do something else.

Seeking to receive is good, but seeking to give is even better!