On Giving and Receiving

What does the Bible say about giving and receiving?

Giving

There are numerous verses about giving including what Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20: 35). We also learn about giving wholeheartedly, and giving to glorify God. 

However there is another side of giving, that of taking or receiving. Do we take advantage of generous people? Some people have gotten so used to receiving that they've forgotten to acknowledge the giver enough to say those two simple but powerful words, 'thank you.' As well as being respectful to elders, parents should inculcate to children gratefulness and saying "thank you." 
     

Receiving Gracefully 

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians spoke heartily about graceful receiving. (Philipians 4: 10-20). In particular he spoke of humility and thankfulness in receiving. In these passages, he starts with "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me." (v. 10).
What Paul really is saying is that we must rejoice in God's gracious provisions; by the same token, that we should also thank Him and other people He uses for their love and generosity. 

It's sad how some people were brought up to believe it's not right to take... diminishing admiration and gratefulness that the other person sincerely gives. And sometimes,  even a negative response to a well-meant compliment can take away the joy from the admiring giver.  Let's accept graciously what's given in the spirit it is offered.