Is it true that if you give, then you also receive?

Question

I've been hearing a lot of that lately by reading spiritual books....I guess I won't understand the concept until I actually do it myself....what's so good about giving? I mean, I KNOW it's good to give to others who are less fortunate than me but what do you get out of it? I mean, pure love is something you give without expecting anything back, right? But what's so good about it?

Answer 1

When you realize that we are all parts of one consciousness then you'll know that what you do to others you do to yourself. This is why Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as "Ourselves." Jesus also said, "What you do to the least of these you do also to me." If you "Get this" and bring yourself to love unconditionally then you will start to waken. Welcome to the enlightenment of love by Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh-1JVctSOY
♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞

Answer 2

In a sense, yes.

I'm an atheist, so I'm not going to cite spiritual nonsense. But I'll give you a straightforward answer.

First, you do gain immediate reward from giving, just because it feels good to do so. Humans instinctually tend to form groups. Part of the group dynamic is empathy towards those in your group. Therefore, there is an instinctual pleasure we get from helping those around us.

Secondly, helping others brings up the average. It is said that we're only as good as our weakest link. Personally, I would rather live in a world where we all get our basic necessities. People are much happier and we tend to get along better when we meet our basic needs. So, helping others indirectly helps us.

Thirdly, people tend to treat you as well as you treat them. If you help others, they will be more likely to help you later. The more we cooperate with each other, the better we survive as a whole.

On the last point, you might have heard of "The Prisoner's Dilemma", which models success strategies for trusting others or being greedy. In a single instance of the game, it is always advantageous to be greedy. However, if you are playing with many iterations or in groups, then cooperation becomes the best strategy. So, it can even be shown with basic gaming theory that helping others is beneficial.

Answer 3

Speaking from my own experience, whenever I faithfully give, the Lord also faithfully bless me exceedingly; much more than what I originally give. I can not really explain how this could possibly make sense except that for some reason it is just that way for me.

However, I did hear an analogy from a pastor before that sounded plausible, he said that when we give to others, we are like shoveling His blessing around to other people. However, at the same time, God is also shoveling His blessing to us and His shovel is much bigger than ours.

With all that said, I think you should not give just because you want something back; it should be because you are being obedient to the Lord. The act of giving is so powerful since your heart is really where your treasure is; it is a great litmus test on where you are at as a Christian. Do you trust Him fully with your life, are you obedient to Him in giving when the world is yelling at your ear to be selfish, that you could not possibly afford it....in essence giving is surrendering your life and trusting Him fully.

My advice.......take the challenge, I have not look back myself.

Answer 4

I heard this story somewhere and can't remember it exactly, but will do my best.

A person was taken by an angel to see hell.
In hell everybody was sitting around a great mound of the most delicious food you could imagine.
However, instead of arms, they had really long spoons.
They could pick the food up, but their spoons were too long, so they couldn't get their spoons into their mouths.
They were all starving in the sight of all that lovely food.

Then the angel took the visitor to heaven.
It was exactly the same, except that they had learned to feed each other.

Answer 5

Well i believe that if you give you will receive even though you might not realise it. Personally giving to others is a key teaching in my religion. But still, giving to others makes you feel good about yourself, well it does to me anyway, it makes me feel good that i've helped someone out who is less fortunate then me. Its true you give someone your love even though you might not get it back, but thats what makes loves so special and its better to have taken that risk.

Answer 6

Any gift you give to another is also a gift to yourself. The energy you put out there is what comes back to you. I don't think it's necessarily about giving financially or materially, but giving of yourself. Showing compassion, tolerance, and holding and sending loving, positive thoughts to those around you.

From my pov, unconditional love is learning to be the source of love rather than waiting for others to be the source.

Answer 7

Yes, we should give to others without expecting anything back. As a result our hearts are filled with joy because we are showing love to others by being an example of God's compassion. However, when we give to the needy we are commanded not boast about it because it's not about making ourselves look good...it's about making God look good by us demonstrating His love.

1"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. 2"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. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
~Matthew 6:1-4 (New International Version)~

Answer 8

Sometimes you give, but there is no exchange.

Luke 6:35 Rather, love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.

But it is all right. God is the rewarder. What people do not give you, God will give it to you much more than you ask.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Answer 9

Give and you'll find out what the rewards is and what you are reading means.

No matter how much I give, I feel I receive much more than I give. There's no 50/50.

There are takers who seldom give. I can't imagine why they are the way that they are though.

Answer 10

I believe we are all part of The Divine so what you give to others you will also be giving to yourself. I also believe that when you give out positive energy you will receive positive energy so that is the benefit of doing good.

Answer 11

Here is a scripture that might just 'hit the nail on the head' for ya', Matthew 6:3.