The Gift of Giving - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2025

Bible in a Year : 2 Chronicles 23-24, John 15

Each of you should give . . . not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Today's Scripture & Insight : 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

In a 2024 address to 1,200 university graduates, a billionaire businessman said: “These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring and giving. [My wife and I] want to give you two gifts: the first is our gift to you, the second is the gift of giving.” His words were followed by the distribution of two envelopes each to the unexpectant graduates—four hundred pounds to keep and four hundred to give away to a person in need.

Though the billionaire’s wealth has allowed him to share like this on more than one occasion, generosity isn’t reserved for those with great means. Believers in Jesus in ancient Macedonia gave out of their poverty so the needs of believers in Jerusalem could be met. Paul said of the Macedonians, “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). He commends them because “they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” (vv. 3-4).

Those who recognise that they’ve been given much grace from God through Jesus can respond with generous hands to the needs of others. With God’s help, let’s give after the example of the one who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

By: Arthur Jackson

Reflect & Pray
What can you offer generously to someone? How have you been the recipient of another’s generosity?

Heavenly Father, please help me to give generously to others.