Daily Discipleship Guide for 19-APR-2010
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
This phrase certainly has to be in the running for the most-quoted-words-of-Jesus award. The question is, do you really believe it?
It is easy to mouth agreement with this principle, to say it is true. But our actual giving patterns tell the truth about what we really believe. This week, sit down and take a look back through your financial records (checkbook, credit card statements, ect.) for the past month or two. Then answer the following questions.
Did anything surprise you, good or bad, as you did this review?
Was there any cringe factor? Were there any evidences of the “more monster” rearing its head?Did you tithe? Did you actually give one-tenth of your earnings to God as soon as you received them?If you didn’t actually tithe, what percentage did you give to God? Is that percentage higher or lower than last year? Than five years ago?Were there any spontaneous outbursts of generosity – modest or even substantial sacrifices made for the sake of someone in need?Did any expenditures represent a step in faith?Now answer the question again. “Do I really believe it is more blessed to give than to receive?”Please close with the following prayer.
Glorious God, source of joy and righteousness, enable us as
redeemed and forgiven children evermore to rejoice in singing
your praises. Grant that what we sing with our lips we may
believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives; so that being
doers of the Word and not hearers only, we may receive
everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Study taken from Giving