Giving without any expectation and then receiving in abundance is such a blessing!

Have you ever heard of the boomerang?  For those readers who have no idea of what a boomerang is, a brief description follows.  The boomerang is an object made out of wood (flat on one side, curved on the other) and designed to travel in an elliptical path through the air and return back again very near to the person who threw it.  The boomerang has been hand crafted and used traditionally by Australian Aborigines as a tool for hunting, for sport, and as a weapon.  The boomerang is considered one of Australia's well known icons. 

Many years ago my uncle worked in the goldfields amongst Aboriginal men and came to receive an authentic boomerang.  If I remember correctly, from a game of two-up.  This boomerang was long in length, about 2 feet (60 centimetres), quite heavy, and resembled a smooth, thick stick in the shape of a hump.  No matter how I tried to have it return to me, I wasn't able to achieve this.  I had a lot of fun trying but clearly much practice and skill were needed.  This boomerang made me think of giving and receiving.

Throwing a boomerang and expecting it to return is quite the opposite of what happened to someone I know who desires to remain anonymous.  Some time ago, my friend wanted to help a youngster who was very ill and hospitalised.  The family were going through several health trials and financial hardship.  A collection was taken up to help them and so my friend contributed a large sum of money.  Not only that, but when the funds converted to another currency, almost half again was taken in the conversion rate from the bank account as a direct debit.  Now this may have upset some thinking this was more than what they intended to give.  Instead, my friend just shrugged it off and thought the family could benefit even further, and simply trusted in God. 

Very soon after this my friend was diagnosed with an unexpected illness, time in hospital, tests were performed, and equipment needed.  All these things added up into the thousands of dollars.  Instead of purchasing the life saving equipment, my friend decided to rent or hire instead as this seemed the sensible option.  However, when entering the hire shop, the technician ensured that not only did my friend receive great service, she insisted on freely giving all the equipment needed, plus many extras that were not included.  When my friend left the shop to load up the car, thoughts of amazement and almost disbelief occurred.  The technician had no responsibility to give anything free of charge but said she felt this overwhelming desire to do so and just said to enjoy all the benefits and continue to be a good person!

And, if that was not enough, my friend also received a large sum of money as a donation to help with the purchase of the equipment needed.  And, if that was not enough, my friend was given more equipment completely free of charge from another benefactor learning of this newly diagnosed illness.   All this generosity was quite overwhelming and caused my friend to think on God's amazing generosity to His children.  Malachi 3:10 came to mind "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this", says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it". 

My friend told me "We can never out-give God"

Never in my friend's wildest dreams did they ever expect anything in return.  Their sole heartfelt desire was to help this family who were experiencing multiple trials over an extended period.   It wasn't until sometime later on that my friend actually realised that the cost of the equipment was almost dollar for dollar the amount of the donation for the family.  It was only then that my friend made the connection of God blessing their generosity.  My friend just marvelled at the preciseness of God's amazing mind, His attentiveness to all the detail, and was extremely thankful.  Perhaps you have felt like this when God blesses you in unexpected ways?

How do we transition into having such a giving heart as our Creator?   We need to go to our Father and strengthen ourselves in prayer daily.  Simply ask for such a heart.   We should want to show God a humble, obedient attitude, along with thankful and grateful praise for all that He does for us.   As we hear of needs from those on the prayer list or from those around us in our physical or spiritual family, we act on these needs by praying and seeking out guidance from God for His will to be done.  What is God's will in this matter and what does He say about generosity?

In Deuteronomy 15:7 "If there is among you a poor man of your brethren within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs".  Moreover God gives instructions to the rich as well in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life".

Galatians 6:6-10 also provides instruction "Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith".

Now is the time to develop our relationship with our Almighty Father in order to trust Him completely and have that deep abiding faith that God will provide for us as we in turn help others.  Whether it is with financial donations, with time (company/friendship/telephone calls), letters or cards, in physical ways using our skills or talents, or in prayer, we all have something we can give.  God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Even though my friend wishes to remain anonymous, their most favourite example of giving in the Bible is from Mark 12:41-44. Please read and meditate on it as we all learn together how to love God and others.