“He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” – Proverbs 22:9

Scripture reading: Proverbs 19:14-17

Most Christians accept that they should tithe and give to the poor, but giving goes beyond those things, to other causes.

First, why give? Solomon said God says so. But there is more. Giving shows you are thankful for God’s love for you. Giving shows your love for your brother. Giving brings rewards.

You start giving by giving to those closer to you: God, your family, relatives, and friends. Give to strangers also. Give to proper needs. This means you must investigate. Don’t simply give because others are giving to an organization. Check them out. Find out how much money goes to administration and to the main cause. Remember, the money is not yours, but the Lord’s. You are merely stewards of those gifts. And don’t boast about giving.

“Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain” (Prov. 25:14).

You must give much more than money. Money is relatively easy to give. Getting your hands down and dirty is much more difficult. Isn’t that true? It is easy to give $4.50 to Scott’s Mission downtown Toronto for a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless, but would you go and help feed the homeless, especially on Thanksgiving Day? Speak for the poor.

“Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

Give of your talents. If able, give advice on personal life, marriage and finances. Give training to a youth. Give of your time. Give support to struggling businesses.

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that you will help without expecting anything back and that you will be generous and not hoard.

This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mitchell Persaud is pastor of New Horizon URC in Scarborough, ON, a mission church under the oversight of Cornerstone URC in London, ON. He was born in Guyana, South America, into a Hindu home, baptized Roman Catholic, raised Pentecostal and then became Reformed.