The blessing in giving
Never underestimate how we can be touched by those in need. We might be fi nancially better
off than many across the world, but this material wealth is not directly proportional to spiritual
wealth.
Jesus tells us that when we give we can expect to receive. Indeed, Jesus said “When you give a feast,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you
and reward you” (Luke 14:13).
Children who, despite their tough existence, have a real and loving relationship with their Father and
incredible faith can reach out to us in our spiritual poverty.
While many children in the developing world are prisoners of poverty, we are in many ways prisoners
of a consumer society. Ugandan Bishop Festo Kivengere found it more diffi cult to minister to those
who are suffering from prosperity. “With prosperity comes a kind of deadening façade that numbs the
sensitivity,” he explained. We get caught up in the trappings of the world, placing too much of our trust
and faith in fi nancial policies, property, governments and our own strength when we should be putting
out greatest trust in God. It is this unfailing trust that our brothers and sisters across the oceans can
show us.
Giving is never a one-way process. We can build a bridge of hope to others and in turn they are a bridge
of hope to us. We are not born to live in isolation or on our own understanding but as part of a larger
network and we should be seeking to make full and ready use of the various parts of the body the Lord
has provided us with. One of the smallest bones in the body is found in the ear, but without this the
whole of the auditory sense will not work. In the same way we should value even the smallest most
vulnerable child in God’s Kingdom.

10
Adapted from ‘Understanding Compassion’ by Renita Boyle and Kate Smith .
page10-11.indd 2 27/7/09 09:42:44
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36