Acts 20:35 – “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Fun family activity ideas to teach our children that is is better to give than to receive….
**hot cocoa to bellringers with a verse of scripture
**Bible verse placecards on blank index cards for the nursing home dinner trays
**Baked goodies with Bible verses to over worked and under appreciated Christmas workers (ex. shopping stores, Christmas tree farms, fast food restaurants)
**Gift cards for something free to someone that you know who constantly gives to others without expecting anything in return
**Raking someone’s lawn.
**Baby-sitting a single mom’s children.
**Leaving scripture for a friend that is struggling with their health, financial hardship, discouragement, loneliness, etc.
**Pay someone’s meal and have the cashier give them a note with a Bible verse explaining God’s love for them.
**Paying for a tank of gas for someone.
**Paying bus fares for folks with notes of encouragement to be handed to them when they usually pay their fare.
**Writing notes with caulk on someone’s driveway.
**Taking a pot of hot soup to the fire station.
**Writing notes of encouragement on frequently run/walked trails.
**Picking out one of our favorite things and giving it to someone secretly with a note explaining the gesture.
**Leaving a wrapped Christmas gift with a verse at someone’s door, ringing the doorbell and running away.
On and on it can go…you are all more creative than me and can come up with a million ideas. Kids have ideas too. The main idea is to teach that in giving, God is glorified, not us. To pass on Jesus’ love that is free and does not require repayment. To bless someone that is hurting and does not feel appreciated. To not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing.
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4