Giving and Receiving

Spain is in the middle of a severe recession.  Because times are tough, Coca-Cola decided to spread some joy.  Coca-Cola customized an ATM machine to distribute 100 Euros ($131) to users with one condition: takers had to use the money to purchase a gift for someone else.  It worked.

           

Coke recorded peoples’ responses to the gifts and compiled them in a video.  The video began with ordinary people being surprised by the free money from the ATM machine.  They smiled and then laughed.  Later, the video showed them giving gifts purchased with the money to others.           

           

What I loved about the video was this: the expressions on peoples’ faces were more excited when giving the gifts than when receiving the cash.  People appeared thrilled and could hardly contain themselves when giving.  They laughed and cried and danced with excitement as they surprised others with seemingly random generosity.  Their expressions were much more animated than when being surprised by the free cash.

That isn’t all that surprising to church folks.  Christians have said it is better to give than to receive for centuries.  Acts 20:35 tells us “Jesus himself said it: ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  So it seems that Coca-Cola and the Son of God agree on some things.

As you go through the coming week, preparing for Easter, let me encourage you to give.  Give of your time.  Give of your money.  Give your life to Christ and others.  You will find more joy in the act of giving than you ever could receive.  It is a time tested truth taught and lived by Jesus Himself.