Possessing a Heart that Shares

The celebration of Christmas reminds us of giving and sharing. I enjoy the opportunity to share a gift with someone and watch the effect that the gift has on them. I can remember seeing tears of joy and excitement fill the eyes of our children and now we are able to witness the same expressions on the faces of our grandchildren. Being willing to give and share with someone is a great attribute to possess in our lives. We need to develop that attitude even more as we see the pain and suffering in our world. I know that we are unable to meet the needs of everyone but we can be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit when the Lord presents us an opportunity to bring a smile to the face of someone who is need of encouragement. The Bible expresses a wonderful challenge in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully" (NLT). It is such a blessing to give out of a heart that recognizes the opportunity to invest in the life of an individual rather than feeling that we are forced into some action that fails to produce any response from either the recipient of the gift or a response from our Heavenly Father. I desire to give cheerfully and not out of obligation. We will explore this further over the next few days as we move through this season of gifts and giving. Let us take a moment and ask God to examine our motives in giving. I desire for God to be pleased with not only my actions but the motives behind those actions.