Giving in a gracious manner will not only bless others but you will benefit from it too. Throughout the Bible you can find a number of positive and prosperous outcomes that resulted from gracious giving. As you enter into the season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the beginning of a brand new year, make a decision to be a gracious giver. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). When you are a gracious giver, you are able to be a blessing, someone receives your blessing, and God is pleased by your generosity. No good deed goes unnoticed. When you are a gracious giver and share your gifts, time and talents in a positive spirit, God gets the glory and you are deemed a gracious giver. If you give begrudgingly, there is a good chance that there will be no boomerang effect from your gift. The most you will receive in return is a simple “thank you” instead of the possibility of a 100-fold return from gracious giving. In this time of Thanksgiving, remember to give thanks and to be grateful for all of your blessings. But also strive to be a gracious giver and cheerfully share your blessings.

Giving in a gracious manner can result in divine connections. These connections could lead to protection, provision, proposals for marriage, and the perfect peace of God. There are Biblical examples to support the significance of gracious giving. Protection was provided from gracious giving when Lot was kind to the angels when he extended hospitality and protection to the angels that came to Sodom and then they reciprocated gracious giving in the form of protection when they helped him and his family flee from the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-25). A marriage proposal was the result of gracious giving when Abraham sent his servant on a mission to find a wife for his son, Isaac, and Abraham’s servant encountered Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24:17-20). She graciously gave him a drink of water and kindly volunteered to also provide water for his camels (Genesis 24:17-20). The servant believed God had answered his prayers and went with her back to meet her family. He explained his reason for being there, extended the marriage proposal, and brought her back with him to be Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24:21-58).

If you really want to reap a harvest, give and give graciously. When you give it comes back to you pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing (Luke 6:38). Think of the widow that provided provision by making a small loaf of bread for the prophet, Elijah, before she made what she thought was her last meal for her and her son before they died due to the famine in the land (1 Kings 17:7-15). The widow graciously gave the prophet a meal and in return was blessed to be able to have her provisions of flour and oil stretch throughout the famine and never run out (1 Kings 17:7-15). Her plenteous provision was a result of her gracious giving.

Jesus is the epitome of gracious giving. He gave the ultimate, gracious gift of His life for you. Not only did He give His life for mankind, He also gave the gracious gift of His perfect peace and the gift of the Holy Ghost (John 14:27). In this season of Thanksgiving, it’s tradition to be grateful and thankful for all that you are blessed to experience. Take it to another level this year and not only be grateful but also be a gracious giver.

Happy Gracious Giving!