The Virtue of Giving
The lecture speaks about the virtue of giving as one of the most important spiritual virtues that trains a person in the love of God and the love of others, and frees him from attachment to money and love of the world. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the person who is accustomed only to receiving becomes centered on himself, while the one who continually gives learns asceticism, generosity, and practical love.
Main Idea
Giving is not merely offering money or possessions, but it is participation with God in His love for creation, because God Himself is the continual Giver to all humanity. Therefore, God called man to practice giving so that he may experience the joy of self-offering and become like God in His attributes.
Conditions of Acceptable Giving
- Giving should be with joy and gladness, because God loves a cheerful giver.
- Giving should be with generosity and not with narrow calculations or hesitation.
- Giving should be without expecting a return or reward from people.
- Giving should be done secretly and with humility.
- Giving should be motivated by love and not by personal benefit.
Giving and Faith
The lecture emphasizes that what a person offers to God and to those in need is the true treasure preserved for him in heaven. It also shows that giving reveals the measure of faith and trust in God’s care, because the faithful person gives even from his need, trusting that God is able to compensate and bless him.
Spiritual Examples
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III presented many examples from the Holy Bible and the lives of the saints, such as:
- The widow of Zarephath who gave from her need.
- The widow who offered the two mites.
- Abraham the father of the fathers who offered his son in complete obedience to God.
- Saint Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum, who was known for his generosity.
- Saints who gave everything they possessed for the sake of those in need.
The Coptic Orthodox Spiritual Dimension
The lecture shows that giving is a spiritual training in:
- Loving God above money.
- Loving one’s neighbor in a practical way.
- Asceticism and detachment from possessions.
- Trusting in God’s providence.
- Becoming like God in generosity and kindness.
General Message
The Christian person is called to live a life of self-giving and generosity with joy, generosity, and love, without expecting anything in return, because giving is a path to spiritual growth and union with the love of God. Everything that is given with love remains preserved before God and bears blessing in a person’s life.
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