Should I Give or Go?

by Wayne Brewer
The Lord’s work is being carried out at this moment by literally thousands and maybe millions of Christians around the world. Innumerable acts of kindness are done every minute by Christians in every nation (Matthew 5:16). Countless Bible lessons are being taught at this very moment in homes, church buildings, and many other public and private places on every continent (Matthew 28:19-20). Invitations are being given for Bible schools, Gospel Meetings, and other activities among brethren at this very moment (Mark 16:15). The Lord’s work is carried out by Christians that go and by the sacrificial giving of brethren that it might be done (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Sometime the question raised is; should I give or should I participate? In order words, should I write a check or actually go?
Obviously both are needed in order for the Lord’s work to be accomplished in any place. The members of the church in Jerusalem were taking food to the Jew and Gentile widows on a daily basis (Acts 6:1-7). Logically that means that funds were needed in order to purchase the food and good brethren to actually carry the food to the widows, or if they had a central place where it was picked up, brethren were needed to work at that location. The apostle Paul thanked the brethren at Philippi for the financial support they had provided to him as he traveled throughout the Roman Empire preaching the gospel (Philippians 1:3-7, 4:14-16). The Lord needs givers and the Lord needs goers in order for his will to be completed and there are blessings to be received by doing either or both. Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus of what Jesus had said; “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). There is a place for giving and a place for going.
Going to see a work that is being supported or to help in a mission area has great benefits to those that give, go, and are visited. Do you enjoy receiving a visit from a neighbor, your children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, or parents? Do you enjoy seeing them face to face, giving them a hug, and spending time conversing with them? Do you enjoy hunting or fishing with them, going to the zoo or a park together? I believe that the answer to these questions would be “yes” and we all know why. The same principle is true in the spiritual family of God. When brothers and sisters from the United States travel to Italy, Latvia, Costa Rica, Quebec, Mexico, Scotland, or wherever else in the world in order to see their brethren face to face there is a great encouragement that takes place. The time that is spent working together in the Lord’s kingdom is invaluable and a powerful motivation to continue on.
Let’s continue to do what we can whether it be giving to support the Lord’s work or going to support the Lord’s work, or both. May the Lord’s church as a whole and Christians individually never lose sight of the need to give and to go.

​