Why is giving so powerful? (2023)

Why is giving very important?

Giving can be a way of expressing gratitude or instilling gratitude, whether you are on the giving or receiving end; this gratitude is essential to happiness, health and social bonds. For example, when you do express gratitude in words and actions, you boost other people's positivity as well as your own.

One of the biggest reasons donating to others makes us feel good is because of the stress-relieving properties of charity work and altruism. Over and over, many different studies show us that giving back to others is a great form of stress relief. This can come in different forms for different people.

Prioritizing Charitable Giving

The power of giving comes out of giving from your heart—not because you have a lot of money or time to give but because the cause is simply important to you.

Giving Promotes Positive Values

Furthermore, if you give to others, you are more likely to be rewarded, and receive something in return, either from the same person or someone else. Such exchanges represent the base for other positive emotions and values, such as trust, cooperation, intimacy, and life satisfaction.

Jesus made a similar promise: Luke 6:38 (NLT) 38If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”

When you look at the functional MRIs of subjects who gave to various charities, scientists have found that giving stimulates the mesolimbic pathway, which is the reward center in the brain — releasing endorphins and creating what is known as the “helper's high.” And like other highs, this one is addictive, too.

Instead of buying more stuff for yourself, research suggests that giving to people or causes you care about is more likely to do the trick. Giving not only helps others, but it also rewards yourself in measurable ways, so much so that it may even increase your lifespan. People seem to understand this intuitively.

We often give gifts to re-confirm or establish our connection with others, which means that they're a reflection of both the giver and the receiver, as well as their unique relationship. Giving a gift to someone we care about allows us to communicate our feelings and appreciation for them.

The Lord promises those who commit themselves to regular, generous giving, that He will not only bless us, He will surprise us. And so the true power in giving is the power of God to fulfill His promises to those who give.

What is the secret of giving?

Practicing the Law of Giving and Receiving is simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want wealth, help others prosper.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

It has been said that there are three kinds of givers: grudge givers, duty givers, and thanks givers. Grudge givers say, “I hate to give;” duty givers say, “I am forced to give;” thanks givers say, “I want to give.”

God's hand is always moved to bless His people through giving. Givers are always commensurately rewarded according to their giving, hence givers never lack. People who do not know this will continue to suffer in poverty, while those who understand the principles of giving enjoy God's blessings.

verb (used with object), gave [geyv], giv·en [giv-uhn], giv·ing. to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow: to give a birthday present to someone. to hand to someone: Give me that plate, please.

It means befriending the poor and the weak, alleviating suffering, righting wrongs, defending truth, strengthening the rising generation, and achieving security and happiness at home. Much of our redemptive work on earth is to help others grow and achieve their just hopes and aspirations…

What it does teach is that God blesses those who give and especially those who give willingly. 2 Corinthians 9:7b says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” In Luke 6:38, we learn that the Lord gives back with the same measure that we use when we give. Generous giving brings generous blessings from God.

Generosity teaches us to trust God

The Bible reminds us that life on earth is uncertain and nothing is guaranteed, but when we put our hope in God's provision, we can rest assured that he'll provide for our needs. Giving to others helps us tangibly practise trusting in God rather than our riches or belongings.

A 2010 study found “people experienced happier moods, when they gave more money away—but only if they had a choice about how much to give.” In a nutshell, giving to charity makes us happier; especially when we freely choose to give.

Why is it harder to receive than to give?

Prioritizing giving over receiving may be a way to keep people distant and our hearts defended. To the extent that we fear intimacy, we may disallow ourselves from receiving a gift or compliment, thereby depriving ourselves of a precious moment of connection. When we give, we're in control in a certain way.

Generous people do not wait for opportunities of generosity to come to them. They seek out ways in which they can bless others. They know that some of the most needy people will never approach another individual for assistance. Therefore, the generous person takes the initiative.

When we give generously and sacrificially, it's not because God needs anything, but because we want to show our love for him. Giving is an expression of obedience, yes, but also of gratitude, trust, and increasing joy. God seeks out and recognizes those who worship him.

Giving. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."- Colossians 3:23 Giving is action. Work heartily, give heartily. Honoring God with any portion of our lives-including with our money-takes discipline, persistence, and grace.