I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20: 35

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul attributes the words of this famous phrase to Jesus. There’s little debate. It sounds like Jesus. We would not be surprised that Jesus encouraged people to give. Nor, would it raise any eyebrows to hear Jesus say that more blessings are associated with giving than receiving.

What is often overlooked, though, is the question of what happens if everyone seeks the greater blessing of giving and no one receives? In other words, someone has to receive in order for the giver to get the greater blessing!

As we celebrate the end of this season of giving, let us not forget that receiving is also a gift. Frequently, we are so set on giving that we do not even allow others to give to us. Now, we are not talking about taking.

There is a difference between taking and receiving. Taking is when you deprive someone of something they don’t want you to have. Receiving is accepting something another person wants you to have, even if, for some reason, you are not eager to receive it.

This year, don’t be too proud, too busy or too afraid to receive. Be open to receive: praise, love, forgiveness, apologies, compliments, presents, help, service and even advice from others. Look at it this way, when you receive, you get a double blessing. You get the gift and you help the person who gave it get the blessing which comes along with giving.