“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give (didomi in the Greek) than to receive’ (Acts 20:35).

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give (didomi in the Greek) His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Beware of the hoarding spirit of our age.  It’s a bitter enslavement being obsessed with my money, my time, my pleasure, my enjoyment, my portfolio, my interests, my honor, and my estate.

Richard Newton writes:

There was once a Scottish nobleman — Lord Brace.  He was very rich, but very miserly.  He was so tight and stingy, that one day when a farmer came to pay his rent, the money he brought was just one farthing short, and the man had to go all the way back to his home, a distance of several miles, and get that farthing before he would give him a receipt.

Well, when it was all settled, the farmer said, “Now, Brace, I’ll give you a shilling if you’ll let me see all the silver and gold you’ve got.”

“Agreed,” said the miserly lord. Then he took him into his vault, and opened the great iron chests full of gold and silver, so that he could see it all.

Then the farmer gave him the promised shilling, and said, “Now, Brace, I’m as rich as you are.”

“Ay, men,” said his lordship, “and how can that be?”

 “Because I’ve looked at your gold and silver, and that is all you will ever do with it.”