Gracious Giving

“And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭12:44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/neh.12.44.nkjv
Charitable donations are recognized mode of supporting the activities of charitable organizations, institutions, and social systems, especially when those activities have proven records of improving the life of concerned people. Unfortunately, consistent motivation is necessary to sustain the commitment of people to the lifestyle of cheerful giving. While many organizations and system of people have adopted coercion (emotional, physical, and even spiritual) as a plausible motivational tool, Judah in the days of Nehemiah showed the better way of grace. The scriptures has it that giving was gracious, because “Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered”. It implies that when all givings in the presence of God, including the presentation of talents, time, and treasures, are motivated by grace, cheerfulness will be just ordinary. No one need to care about the size or sense of the fellow believers’ benevolence, especially when the Main Receiver of gifts is the Giver of life. It is always a joyful feeling for cheerful givers, when gifts are solemnly carried by grace into the presence of God.

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