Embracing Love: The Joy of Giving to Others

Devotional

Day 1: Focus on Giving, Not Receiving

Shift your focus from how others treat you to how you treat others. This change in perspective can lead to greater joy and fulfillment, as it aligns with the principles of the kingdom of heaven. The sermon encourages individuals to move away from the "ladder of worth," where people often compare themselves to others based on superficial metrics like attractiveness or success. Instead, it suggests that true contentment comes from how we treat others, emphasizing the importance of adding value to the lives of those around us. This approach not only enriches our own lives but also fosters a community of love and support. [01:33]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who could benefit from your kindness today. How can you intentionally add value to their life through your actions or words?

Day 2: The Joy of Generosity

The paradox of giving is that the more we focus on what we can give, the more joy and meaning we find in life. This is in stark contrast to the insatiable nature of seeking what we can get. The sermon highlights that the act of giving, especially during the holiday season, brings a deeper sense of fulfillment than the pursuit of personal gain. By shifting our mindset to one of generosity, we align ourselves with the values of the kingdom of heaven, where love and selflessness are paramount. This perspective not only transforms our relationships but also enriches our spiritual journey. [03:27]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a way you can give to someone in need this week, whether through time, resources, or encouragement. How can this act of generosity bring joy to both you and the recipient?

Day 3: Embracing Individuality in Love

C.S. Lewis illustrates the difference between heaven and hell as a contrast between freedom and domination. True love honors individuality and does not seek to absorb others into oneself. The sermon draws on Lewis's depiction to emphasize that love in the kingdom of heaven celebrates the unique qualities of each person. This love is not about making others conform to our desires but about embracing their differences. By recognizing and valuing the individuality of others, we create a community where everyone is free to be themselves, reflecting the freedom and joy of heaven. [07:01]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone whose differences you find challenging. How can you honor and celebrate their individuality in your interactions with them this week?

Day 4: Love as an Endless Well

Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is a well that never runs dry. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres, allowing us to love others freely when we are rooted in God's love. The sermon reminds us that true love is inexhaustible and does not deplete with use. When we are grounded in the love of God, we can extend this love to others without fear of running out. This perspective encourages us to love boldly and generously, knowing that God's love sustains us and empowers us to love others unconditionally. [09:13]

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you." (1 Thessalonians 3:12, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a relationship where you feel your love is running thin. How can you draw from God's endless well of love to renew your commitment to this person?

Day 5: Recognizing and Responding to God's Love

Recognize the ways in which you are loved by God, and let this awareness free you to love others without fear. Embrace the opportunity to encourage and celebrate those around you. The sermon encourages individuals to be mindful of God's love in their lives, which provides the foundation for loving others. By acknowledging and appreciating the ways God sustains and cares for us, we are liberated to extend love to others without concern for how they treat us. This awareness transforms our interactions, allowing us to be a source of encouragement and celebration for those around us. [09:51]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Spend a few moments today reflecting on how God has shown His love for you recently. How can this awareness inspire you to love someone in your life more deeply and intentionally?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, I invite you to shift your focus from how others are treating you to how you are treating others. It's easy to get caught up in the ladder of worth, constantly comparing ourselves to others based on attractiveness, athleticism, or earning potential. However, this mindset can lead to dissatisfaction and a never-ending quest for more. Instead, consider how you can add value to the lives of those around you. As we approach the holiday season, a time often associated with giving, let's focus on what we can give rather than what we can get.

The paradox of life is that the more we focus on giving and loving others, the more joy and fulfillment we experience. This is the essence of the kingdom of heaven, where love and generosity reign. C.S. Lewis, in his "Screwtape Letters," illustrates the contrast between heaven and hell. Hell is depicted as a place of domination and consumption, where individuals seek to absorb others into themselves. In contrast, heaven is a place of freedom and individuality, where each person is celebrated for their unique qualities.

True love involves honoring the differences in others and embracing their unique personalities. It is not about making others conform to our desires or expectations. This kind of love is only possible when we recognize that we are loved by God, who watches over us and provides for us. In 1 Corinthians 13, we are reminded that love never fails and never runs out. It is a well that never runs dry, allowing us to continue loving others without fear of depletion.

Today, I encourage you to look for God's love in your life. Recognize the ways in which you are being loved and sustained by Him. This awareness frees you to love others without worrying about how they are treating you. Embrace the opportunity to encourage, observe, challenge, and celebrate those around you. Let love be your guide as you navigate your interactions with others.

Key Takeaways

1. Shift your focus from how others treat you to how you treat others. This change in perspective can lead to greater joy and fulfillment, as it aligns with the principles of the kingdom of heaven. [01:33]
2. The paradox of giving is that the more we focus on what we can give, the more joy and meaning we find in life. This is in stark contrast to the insatiable nature of seeking what we can get. [03:27]
3. C.S. Lewis illustrates the difference between heaven and hell as a contrast between freedom and domination. True love honors individuality and does not seek to absorb others into oneself. [07:01]
4. Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is a well that never runs dry. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres, allowing us to love others freely when we are rooted in God's love. [09:13]
5. Recognize the ways in which you are loved by God, and let this awareness free you to love others without fear. Embrace the opportunity to encourage and celebrate those around you. [09:51]
** [09:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - How's Life Treating You?
[00:49] - The Ladder of Worth
[01:33] - How Am I Treating Others?
[02:15] - Advent and Giving
[02:40] - The Gift of Noticing
[03:27] - The Paradox of Giving
[03:55] - Heaven vs. Hell
[04:22] - C.S. Lewis on Hell
[05:04] - The Desire to Dominate
[06:17] - Shalom and Separation
[07:01] - Love vs. Hunger
[08:33] - How Can I Love?
[09:13] - Love Never Fails
[09:51] - Recognizing God's Love

Sermon Clips

Well, I can go through the day asking myself this question: how they treat me, and might there be somebody out there that could treat me better? Or I could ask this question: how am I treating life? How am I treating other people? How much value am I building into them? How much encouragement, how much love am I giving? [00:84:15]

As we go into the advent season, I want to do something for advent for us all this year. We think a lot of times about giving. I can think about what am I going to get, or I can think about what am I going to give. My brother Bart is a great gift giver. [00:135:28]

The paradox is that the more that I focus on what could I give to other people, how am I treating them, the more joy and fulfillment and meaning I'm able to experience. And on the other hand, the question that seems oriented around my happiness—what am I going to get, how are they treating me, am I getting enough—is a question that by its nature can never be satisfied. [00:202:87]

C.S. Lewis illustrates the difference between heaven and hell as a contrast between freedom and domination. True love honors individuality and does not seek to absorb others into oneself. This is an essential difference between actually heaven and the kingdom of heaven and the way that God works, and hell. [00:230:00]

Their second motive is a kind of hunger. I faint that devils can, in a spiritual sense, eat one another and us. Even in human life, we have seen the passion to dominate, almost to digest one's fellow, to make his whole intellectual and emotional life merely an extension of one's own. [00:302:08]

Shalom involves separation. You become full of yourself. I become fully, and I honor that in you, and I honor the differences in you. I honor the things that you love and the things that motivate you, and your unique wiring and your personality, and the fact that it's different than mine doesn't threaten me. [00:381:60]

On earth, this desire is often called love. In hell, I think they recognize it as hunger, but there the hunger is more ravenous and a fuller satisfaction is possible. Therefore, I suggest the stronger spirit, that there are no bodies to impede the operation, can really and irrevocably suck the weaker into itself. [00:418:88]

His dream is of the day when all shall be inside him and all that says "I" can say it only through him. This, I surmise, is the bloated spider parody, the only imitation he can understand, of that unfathomed bounty whereby God turns tools into servants and servants into sons. [00:475:84]

So now today, the question is how can I love? What can I give? Where can I contribute? Not how are they treating me, but how am I loving them? And the only way this is possible is because we live in a kingdom where there is someone watching out for and caring for and loving us. [00:510:87]

In First Corinthians 13, there's that wonderful passage where it says that love always protects, love always trusts, love always hopes, love always perseveres. Love never fails, and that little word "fail" can also be translated it never runs out. It's like a well that never runs dry. [00:537:20]

I look for that love from him when I wake up in the morning, when the sun comes up, when I have food to eat, when there are people in my life, when my body is working, when my mind is working, when I have clothes, when great thoughts are able to come to me through scripture or through a mind like a C.S. Lewis. [00:571:92]

I am being loved, you are being loved by God every moment, and every neuron of your body, every cell, every atom is sustained by the level it never runs out. So then I'm free today to try to go love the people that I will run into, my neighbor, that God brings into my path today. [00:591:04]

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