“Every man shall give as he is able.” —Deuteronomy 16:17 ESV
Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree is a wonderful story illustrating the blessings of being a giver. The apple tree in this parable gives gifts to a boy—apples to eat when he’s hungry, shade when he’s hot and tired, and branches on which he can climb and play.
As the years pass, the tree gives up all its branches to meet the boy’s needs. Finally, all that’s left is a stump, which the tree offers as a seat to the grown man who has returned to his childhood home. The man, who’s spent his life taking from others, is now disconsolate and empty, while the tree that’s always been so generous is contented and happy.
Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to be takers rather than givers. Perhaps no society in history has been more materially prosperous than ours. Yet studies reveal that our giving is on the decline rather than the rise. Our prosperity has bred increased selfishness, stinginess, and insecurity. How contrary this is to the heart of God and to the nature of the gospel itself!
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Singled Out for Him: Embracing the gift, the blessings, and the challenges of singleness
©2023 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Scripture taken from The ESV
Make it Personal
Ask God to help you look for opportunities to share with others the blessings and resources He has entrusted to you.