The idea that giving is more blessed than receiving goes against almost everything human instinct tells us. Most people feel blessed when they acquire material things, viewing giving as loss rather than gain. The notion of total self-giving—like Jesus offering His body for our salvation—may be admired by some, but it makes little sense to the majority.
This isn’t surprising: like other creatures, humans naturally rely on material security to feel safe and comfortable. Without a home, many feel unlucky and deeply unsettled, even though death comes to everyone, property owner or not.
People worry constantly about how they are perceived. Not all who call themselves believers truly embrace giving up everything for others. Many don’t even realize that following Jesus means surrendering all to Him. This can sound extreme, as if Christianity were a path to forced poverty, yet it is something Jesus Himself taught.
“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:19–20)
The teacher of the law may have genuinely wanted to follow Christ, but Jesus’ response was sobering. By stating He had no home, Jesus made it clear that following Him would involve significant sacrifice. The cost of discipleship was rooted in giving, not in receiving. Yet today, much of modern Christianity links faith with the expectation of material blessings.
For many, the idea that blessings can come primarily through giving, not receiving, feels unusual. In Jesus’ own time, tithing—urged in Malachi—was often seen as a path to building wealth, and the wealthy were admired as exemplary keepers of the law. Then a man approached Jesus with a searching question:
“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ … Jesus replied, ‘…If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ … ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19:16–22)
Jesus wasn’t being vague or abstract. Anyone who understands investment knows you can’t expect a return without first putting something in. The young man had carefully observed the law and achieved material success, but God’s Kingdom demanded more: selling everything and giving to the poor—even those outside his own faith.
As a businessman, if he truly desired God’s Kingdom, he should have recognized that investing in the poor is storing treasure in Heaven. The world might mock such reasoning, but it promises eternal reward. Jesus simply answered his request to enter the Kingdom; the man walked away sad because the cost was too high.
Perfection—the true measure of goodness—was what he had been chasing all along. When he asked about eternal life, Jesus gave him the hard truth, turning common ideas about blessing upside down. Some may think Jesus promoted poverty, but in reality, the deepest poverty comes from clinging and taking, not from giving.
The greater problem is the illusion that you can build true wealth while surrounded by the needy; your riches are diminished by the poverty around you. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. So here is the question: Was Jesus blessed, or not? If not, then nothing more needs to be said. But if He was blessed, then everything He said must be reconsidered. From Acts onward, there is no record of Christians pursuing material wealth as the reward for serving God—many, like Christ, gave their lives for their faith. They got executed.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:10–12)
Why would anyone be persecuted for doing what is right? Shouldn’t persecution target the wicked? Jesus taught that suffering for righteousness is like investing in Heaven—it is another form of giving. While it seems the righteous should be rewarded with comfort and approval, Jesus instructed His disciples to rejoice when insulted rather than when praised for doing good works. This challenges everything the world believes, because the world naturally expects something in return for what it gives.
Christianity calls us to pour our whole lives into serving others. A friend once suggested I tailor my writing to gain acceptance or financial support, but that does not align with work led by Christ’s Spirit. Many writers are driven by Facebook “likes,” but if that is your goal, the message cannot truly be from Jesus. Popularity may bring praise, but as Jesus taught, that becomes the only reward you will get (Matthew 6:1–4). Insults for His sake are blessings; human approval must never drive God’s work. Even Jesus valued friends, but when they abandoned Him in His darkest hours, He found His strength in His Father, not in the applause of people.
“He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ …he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” (Matthew 26:37–39)
Jesus’ humanity was on full display, even though He had taught the value of rejoicing in the face of insults from sinners. Still, He remained firm, fixing His heart on God’s will. Friends might have urged Him to abandon the path of suffering, but He set the example for all true Christians. He found joy in completing His mission, a joy that enabled Him to endure the cross.
God’s will inspires true Christians to stay focused on heavenly matters, just as Jesus did. While it feels good to receive praise and financial help, the blessing promised by Jesus will flow to the givers, not to the recipients. It is the act of giving, not receiving, that brings heavenly blessing.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others 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… Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1–4)
Rejoicing in the face of insults and persecution is made possible through prayer, which builds complete trust in God. In Gethsemane, Jesus felt deep sorrow, yet according to His own teaching, He could still rejoice. In truth, He did rejoice after fulfilling His mission of dying for humanity’s sins. He knew prayer was the key to overcoming sorrow, leading to the very joy He encourages in all of us. Unconditional giving is not tied to physical circumstances; it was perfectly demonstrated by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
In the world, many give naturally but still expect something in return. True giving means letting go of the principles that keep us bound. The beautiful exception is seen in those Jesus described—people who gave without even realizing the eternal significance of their actions:
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’” (Matthew 25:37–39)
Like the Good Samaritan, who helped a victim of robbers without expecting anything in return, they will be among those surprised by heavenly rewards at the end. The Good Samaritan isn’t depicted as a believer consciously seeking such rewards (Luke 10:33–37); he was simply guided by his conscience. The sacrifice he made for the injured man brought comfort to his own soul, as if he bore responsibility for the harm done to the victim.
Jesus insists on giving quietly, without seeking attention. When praises pour in, they effectively replace the true blessing of giving; human admiration becomes the only reward. In this way, the spiritual power of giving is lost when overshadowed by public recognition. Those who celebrate being appreciated for giving as another way of being blessed may mistake that for divine approval.
The world is full of people chasing comfort without any thought of God, yet Christianity calls for sacrificing personal interest for the sake of others. Wealth often attracts admiration, though God may have no part in it, as long as enjoyed without sharing. Some boast of their fortunes and success over others, but a true Christian remains unfazed by such arrogance.
The psalmist honestly records how ordinary believers can struggle with this:
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped… For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. … Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.” (Psalm 73:1–6)
Many become discouraged, wondering why God seems to allow evil people to live blessed, comfortable lives while those who call on His name day and night struggle. Some expect tangible rewards as compensation for life’s hardships. While this reaction feels natural, it misses the heart of Christianity. Christians who take pride in the praise they receive from others are missing the point.
The faith isn’t measured by worldly standards, which constantly oppose the selflessness Jesus taught. It is measured by Christ’s standard—by how much others benefit from our lives. Jesus died on the cross not for His own gain but for the good of all, showing that a godly life will never align with the ways of the world.
“When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.” (Psalm 73:16–18)
Many believers seem more focused on what they can gain from their faith than on what they can give. This long-standing misunderstanding needs urgent attention. They miss the essence of Christianity, which often runs directly contrary to their aims. As Jesus warned, not everyone who calls out “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21).
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (Matthew 15:7–9)
Embracing Christianity without truly following what Jesus taught is unwise. God isn’t impressed when people mix faith with human-made traditions. It is misguided to appear charitable while expecting something in return, instead of giving freely and secretly, with no strings attached. Some within Christianity have twisted this by using Old Testament tithing to manipulate believers to be legally bound by it.
While tithing may be presented as the path to material blessings, it can easily run against the spirit of Jesus’ teaching—He encouraged giving in secret. Once a person strays from the right path, it’s difficult to bring them back, out of a willing heart. Israel’s blessings were physical, like the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, but these foreshadowed greater promises through Jesus. Christianity isn’t ultimately about a physical Promised Land.
“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their own work, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:8–10)
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6); there is no other path if one hopes to be commended by Him. Even those who emphasize tithing agree that everything Jesus did was unconditional. He never asked for anything in return for His works. Instead, He taught and modeled the principle of giving without expecting any physical reward.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. … Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44–45, 48)
In Christianity, believers are seen as God’s children when they follow Jesus’ example in every part of their lives. You cannot truly claim to be a Christian while living in ways that contradict His teachings. God’s children give generously without seeking praise, remain motivated to do good for God alone, and are not swayed by the opinions of others. They often go unnoticed by the world—except when they face ridicule or unfair treatment. And in that very giving of themselves, they discover the truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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