Experience the Joy of Giving

By Rev. Dr. Helen Bessent Byrd, (Union-PSCE, M.Div’07)

“Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38 NSRV).

Recently I read an article by a person who serves as a mission engagement advisor for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  She told of a women that she came to know who found much joy in giving. This donor wanted to sell stocks and give the cash $500,000 each to a youth center and a Presbyterian camp and retreat center.  The writer wrote, “When we expressed our deep gratitude for her generosity, she smiled and said the wealth was not really hers.  ‘I am merely the agent and I receive such joy from giving.’”  After the donor died, her estate provided funds to retire the mortgage of the same Presbyterian center.

The donor about whom this aforementioned story was told is an excellent model of generosity.  The amounts of her gifts is not the significant point about the story.  Rather, it is the emotion with which she gave it. It was the joy – her delight, pleasure in giving!  We, too, should joyfully give to others.  “The point is the one who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.  Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful – happy, joyful – giver” (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

At the college from which I earned my baccalaureate degree, I heard from the words of sermons and lectures as well as saw in examples of ministers and faculty that we all ought live simply so that others can simply live.  No matter how bountiful your resources may be, you should not live extravagantly.  Rather, consider and remember the needs of others.  Generously share with them and God blesses you with more abundance.  As the joyful donor in the story attested, one who has the abundance at any point in time is “merely the agent”.  God will replenish it for you – to give again and the cycle continues!  So give to help with the teaching and learning at Union Presbyterian Seminary to prepare leaders for the church and the world.  See the website for giving opportunities.  When you give, write BAA on the line with your name if you give online and on the memo line of your check for tracking purposes.  Experience the joy of giving!

*M.Ed., Temple University ’65; M.Div., Union-PSCE ’07; Ph.D., UConn ’72