There’s a verse in Acts that keeps coming back to me lately:

Acts 20:35 — “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Paul was saying this while speaking to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, reminding them what a Christ-centered life actually looks like. And, the older I get, the more I unfortunately realize how upside-down this idea feels compared to the world around us.

Before we go any further, I want to clear something up…because this matters. God does not require us to ‘do good things’ to enter into heaven. Salvation is about believing in Him. Period. John 3:16 and Romans 10:9 make that very clear.

But once we’re born again…something shifts.

When God changes hearts, there’s a desire to live like Jesus. Not out of obligation, but out of love. So, that raises some questions…

Who are we giving to?

Who are we receiving from?

And what does ‘giving’ even mean in real life?

Think about kids. Children don’t hesitate to receive from their parents — food, shelter, love, help. They just accept it! God is our Heavenly Father, and He gives to us the same way. After reading Romans 8:32, that if God was willing to give His own Son for us, why would He hold anything back from us?

Yet, somehow, many of us struggle with receiving…and that is okay. 

We’re okay with giving, but why not receiving? It can feel awkward and uncomfortable, and sometimes even undeserved. But, what if receiving is actually part of how God teaches us to give as well? 

How can we pour into others if we never allow ourselves to be filled?

Here’s the reality…no stuff is actually ours anyway. Our money, our homes, our clothes are all temporary. We don’t take any of it with us when we leave this world. A little morbid, yes, but stay with me.

What does last are eternal souls.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that our lives matter — how we love, how we serve, how we show up while we are here on earth. So, sometimes I ask myself questions like:

Do I really need that extra purchase… or could that money help someone else?

Could I quietly pay for someone else’s meal?

Could I show up with dinner for a new mom who’s just trying to survive that day?

Giving isn’t just about money, though that’s often the obvious one. Giving can look like time. Attention. Skills. Energy. Listening. Mentoring. Building something for someone who can’t do it themselves. Sitting with someone who feels alone.

And receiving matters too.

Can you receive a compliment without brushing it off?

Can you accept a home-cooked meal but struggle to accept help moving?

Can you receive encouragement but not financial help?

We all give and receive differently — and that’s okay. Learning how you love others best (and how you allow yourself to be loved) is part of the journey.

One thing remains true…everything good flows from God.

He loves blessing us, His children. And when we understand that — when we truly receive His love — it naturally spills over. We become conduits of His unfailing love to the people around us.

We are blessed…not to hoard it, but to share it. Blessed to be a blessing.

God loves you!

With much love,

Alexandra