in the 1830s in Scotland, Robert Murray McCheyne preached on the text, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The following is from that sermon.
Now, dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be made branches of the True Vine; you pray to be made all over in the image of Christ. If so, you must be like him in giving.” “Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor …”

Objection: my money is my own.

Answer: Christ might have said, ‘My blood is my own, my life is my own; no man forceth it from me.’ Then where should we have been?

Objection: the poor are undeserving.

Answer: Christ might have said the same thing. They are wicked rebels against my Father’s law: shall I lay down my life for these? I will give to the good angels. But no … he gave his blood for the undeserving.

Objection: the poor may abuse it. Answer: Christ might have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew that thousands would trample his blood under their feet; that most would despise it; that many would make it an excuse for sinning more; yet he gave his own blood.

Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and the poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy, and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his own word: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” – Robert Murray McCheyne

If we see the cross and grasp much at all of the gospel – How can our lives not be marked by ministry to the poor? In the truest sense – we are all utterly poor apart from Christ.