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Anyone Can ‘Fill His Hand’ With a Gift

Is giving limited to the spiritual area? No. When King David of old was making preparations for building the temple, he asked: “Who is there volunteering to fill his hand today with a gift for Jehovah?” (1 Chronicles 29:5) Anyone could do so. Similarly today, young or old, in good health or not, many wish to make a voluntary material contribution to further the Kingdom interests. It may be done through the branch office of one’s country or through the local congregation. In this way anyone may, according to his ability, help bear the expense of seeing that the good news is preached in all the inhabited earth. It is a privilege.—2 Corinthians 9:8-12.

    Mark 12:43, 44

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¹⁷ Jesus called his disciples to him, for he wanted them to see firsthand the lesson he was about to teach. She “dropped in more than all those dropping money into the treasury chests,” said Jesus. In his estimation she put in more than all the others combined. She gave “all of what she had”—her last bit of money. By doing so, she placed herself in Jehovah’s caring hands. The person who was thus singled out as an example of giving to God is one whose gift was almost worthless in material value. In God’s eyes, however, it was priceless!—Mark 12:43, 44; James 1:27.

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There are many valuable lessons we can learn from this account. The most outstanding one, perhaps, is that while all of us have the privilege of lending support to true worship by means of our material possessions, what is truly precious in God’s sight is, not our giving what we can do without anyway, but our giving what is valuable to us. In other words, are we giving something we will not really miss? Or is our giving a real sacrifice?

    1Co 16:2

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¹¹ The apostle Paul provided a principle to follow when considering donations. (Read 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2.)Under inspiration, he encouraged his brothers in Corinth not to wait until the end of the week to see what was left over but, rather, to set aside funds at the start of the week in harmony with what they could do. As in the first century, brothers and sisters in our time plan ahead to respond generously according to their circumstances. (Luke 21:1-4; Acts 4:32-35) Jehovah treasures such a giving spirit.

    Just as a person might save some funds for an emergency, so individual Witnesses, families or congregations might regularly set something aside for a contribution to advance true worship. In fact, entire congregations frequently contribute surplus funds to advance the Kingdom work. They do so by preparing and passing resolutions to that effect. Willing-hearted individuals also find it possible to share in supporting Christian preaching activities throughout the earth by making personal donations for that purpose. This proper giving increases their happiness and gives them the satisfaction of knowing that they are doing what they can.