Session 5
Giving to receive?
From 2 Corinthians: 21-Day Bible Study
Jesus never had trouble attracting a crowd. Even when people did not agree with Him, they were still interested in the backward way He suggested people live. Saying things like "to die is to live," "love those who hate you," and "it’s better to give than to receive" were, and still are, counterintuitive to our natural human reactions.
Those “crazy ideas” are not just “must do” statements in God’s Word. We also have God’s promises of blessing when we follow them.
For example, in 2 Corinthians 9:10-15, we see that when we give generously to the church, God promises three things:
- It increases our faith and our desire to be generous to others (2 Corinthians 9:10).
- It meets others' needs (2 Corinthians 9:12).
- It increases others' faith (2 Corinthians 9:12-15).
Giving is not always easy because we often see what we have been given from God as something we have somehow earned and deserve.
Giving is not always easy because we often see what we have been given from God as something we have somehow earned and deserve. When we start viewing everything we have, including money, as a gift from our Father for us to manage, it changes our perspective. Giving becomes fun because we get to do something for others, or the church, that God did for us first — give freely and joyfully.
Reflect:
- Have you struggled with giving back to God and the church? Why, or why not?
- When was one time God met one of your needs and it increased your faith?
- What is one way you can be generous today, either to someone you know or to the church?