Giving Away to Keep: Embracing Unseen Spiritual Goods

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explore the profound truth that the greatest values in life are those that we can only truly possess by giving them away. This concept is beautifully illustrated by the founding story of the 12-step recovery movement, where the sobriety of the first member was solidified not by holding onto it but by helping another person achieve it. This principle of giving away to keep is not just about sobriety but extends to the most significant goods in life, such as joy, gratitude, and love.

Thomas Aquinas categorized goods into two types: those that diminish when shared, like material possessions, and those that grow when given away, like joy and gratitude. The latter are the greatest goods, and they are deeply connected to the unseen, spiritual realm. The Apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews remind us to focus on what is unseen, for it is eternal. The unseen includes love, joy, and peace, which are more real and lasting than the temporal, visible things of this world.

The act of sharing these unseen goods not only enriches others but also deepens our own experience of them. When we share joy, our joy increases. When we express gratitude, our gratitude grows. This is why telling a friend about our experiences, whether it's a beautiful moment in nature or a great book, enhances our own delight and gratitude.

As we navigate our daily lives, the challenge is to focus on these unseen realities and to serve the real God, not the one who serves our desires. Tolstoy's distinction between the God who serves us and the God whom we serve is crucial. The real God calls us to lay down our lives, and in doing so, we find true life. Therefore, as we go through our day, let us ask ourselves how we can give away these greatest goods—how we can serve, bring joy, comfort, and encouragement to others. For in giving them away, we truly keep them.

Key Takeaways:

- The principle of "giving away to keep" is central to the greatest values in life. Just as the first member of the 12-step recovery movement found strength in helping another, we too find that sharing joy, gratitude, and love enriches our own experience of them. [01:18]

- Thomas Aquinas teaches us that the greatest goods are those that grow when shared. Unlike material possessions, joy and gratitude increase when given away, highlighting the importance of focusing on these spiritual values. [02:34]

- The distinction between the seen and unseen is vital. While the world often emphasizes the visible and temporal, the unseen—love, joy, and peace—are eternal and more real. Our focus should be on these enduring values. [06:13]

- Sharing our experiences and joys with others not only enhances our own delight but also strengthens our connection to these unseen goods. Whether it's a beautiful moment or a great book, telling a friend amplifies our joy and gratitude. [07:52]

- Tolstoy's distinction between the God who serves us and the God whom we serve challenges us to focus on serving the real God. By laying down our lives and serving others, we find true life and keep the greatest goods. [09:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Celebrating Anniversaries
- [00:23] - The 12-Step Recovery Movement
- [00:48] - The Fragility of Sobriety
- [01:18] - Giving Away to Keep
- [01:44] - The Greatest Goods
- [02:23] - Aquinas on Goods
- [03:34] - Seen vs. Unseen
- [04:28] - Faith and the Unseen
- [05:14] - Creation and the Unseen
- [05:54] - Focusing on the Eternal
- [06:44] - Telling a Friend
- [07:31] - Sharing Beauty and Joy
- [08:04] - Serving the Real God
- [09:25] - The Two Gods
- [09:41] - Final Encouragement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Romans 1:19-20 - "Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

2. Hebrews 11:1-3 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

3. 2 Corinthians 4:18 - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

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Observation Questions:

1. What distinction does Thomas Aquinas make between different types of goods, and how does this relate to the concept of "giving away to keep"? [02:23]

2. How does the Apostle Paul describe the relationship between the seen and unseen in Romans 1:19-20? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about focusing on eternal values? [04:00]

3. In Hebrews 11:1-3, what is said about faith and the unseen? How does this passage support the sermon’s emphasis on unseen spiritual realities? [04:28]

4. What example from the 12-step recovery movement illustrates the principle of "giving away to keep"? [01:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon’s message about sharing joy and gratitude align with the biblical teaching in 2 Corinthians 4:18 about focusing on the unseen? [06:13]

2. What might it mean to "serve the real God" as opposed to the "God who serves us," and how does this relate to the unseen values discussed in the sermon? [09:08]

3. How does the concept of "giving away to keep" challenge our typical understanding of ownership and possession, especially in the context of spiritual goods like joy and love? [01:18]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that sharing our experiences with others can enhance our own spiritual growth and joy? [07:31]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when sharing joy or gratitude with someone else increased your own sense of joy or gratitude. How can you intentionally practice this principle in your daily life? [03:08]

2. Consider the unseen values of love, joy, and peace. How can you shift your focus from the visible and temporary to these eternal values in your daily decisions and interactions? [06:13]

3. Identify a specific way you can "serve the real God" this week by laying down your own desires to help someone else. What steps will you take to make this happen? [09:25]

4. Think about a person in your life who could benefit from encouragement or comfort. How can you give away these unseen goods to them this week? [08:30]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of "telling a friend" about your experiences of beauty, joy, or gratitude into your routine? What impact do you think this will have on your relationships? [07:52]

6. Reflect on the distinction between the God who serves us and the God whom we serve. How does this distinction challenge your current understanding of your relationship with God? [09:08]

7. What is one unseen value you want to focus on cultivating in your life this month? What specific actions will you take to nurture this value? [06:30]

Devotional

Day 1: The Paradox of Giving to Keep
The principle of "giving away to keep" is a profound truth that challenges conventional thinking. In the founding story of the 12-step recovery movement, the first member found strength and sobriety not by clinging to it but by helping another person achieve it. This principle extends beyond sobriety to encompass the greatest values in life, such as joy, gratitude, and love. When we share these values with others, we not only enrich their lives but also deepen our own experience of them. This paradoxical truth invites us to consider how we can give away what we most desire to keep. [01:18]

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

Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from the joy, gratitude, or love you have to offer today? How can you intentionally share these values with them?


Day 2: The Growth of Shared Goods
Thomas Aquinas teaches us that the greatest goods are those that grow when shared. Unlike material possessions, which diminish when divided, spiritual values like joy and gratitude increase when given away. This highlights the importance of focusing on these spiritual values, which are deeply connected to the unseen, eternal realm. By sharing these goods, we not only enrich others but also experience a greater abundance of them in our own lives. This principle encourages us to prioritize the sharing of spiritual values over the accumulation of material wealth. [02:34]

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual value can you share with someone today that might grow in both your life and theirs? How can you make this a regular practice?


Day 3: Focusing on the Unseen
The distinction between the seen and unseen is vital in understanding what is truly eternal and real. While the world often emphasizes the visible and temporal, the unseen—love, joy, and peace—are eternal and more real. The Apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews remind us to focus on what is unseen, for it is eternal. This focus on the unseen challenges us to prioritize spiritual values over material possessions and to seek what is lasting and true. By doing so, we align ourselves with the eternal purposes of God. [06:13]

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one unseen value you can focus on today that will have eternal significance? How can you shift your perspective to prioritize this value?


Day 4: Amplifying Joy Through Sharing
Sharing our experiences and joys with others not only enhances our own delight but also strengthens our connection to these unseen goods. Whether it's a beautiful moment in nature or a great book, telling a friend amplifies our joy and gratitude. This act of sharing invites others into our experiences and allows us to experience a deeper sense of joy and gratitude. By intentionally sharing our joys, we create a ripple effect that spreads positivity and enriches the lives of those around us. [07:52]

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent experience that brought you joy. How can you share this joy with someone else today to amplify the experience for both of you?


Day 5: Serving the Real God
Tolstoy's distinction between the God who serves us and the God whom we serve challenges us to focus on serving the real God. The real God calls us to lay down our lives, and in doing so, we find true life. By serving others and giving away the greatest goods, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience the fullness of life He offers. This call to serve invites us to examine our motivations and to seek ways to serve others selflessly, trusting that in giving, we truly receive. [09:25]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you serve others today that reflect the selfless love of God? How can you ensure that your service is motivated by a desire to honor God rather than seeking personal gain?

Quotes

"In order to keep it you have to give it away, in order to keep it you got to give it away. And that's the expression for today we're learning how to live a single day at a time and walk together with each other and with God, and to do that primarily in this run by taking one great thought that I can carry with me through my day and think about in all my relationships." [00:78:88]

"Thomas Aquinas separated goods into two different categories. Certain goods are such that if you give them away, your own possession of them is lessened, and those are generally things that we can see like money. If I give you some of my food I have less on my plate if I give you some of my clothes I have less to wear." [00:122:479]

"But Aquinas said those are actually the lesser goods, that the greatest goods, the things that are of most value, are actually goods that when I give them away, it does not diminish my enjoyment or possession or ownership in them. And it's that way for example with joy." [00:144:879]

"Nobody would be a gratitude miser. Nobody would go through the day saying I gotta hold on to my gratitude not sharing it because if I let go of some of my gratitude I might have less of it. Now with the greatest goods Aquinas saw the way that they work is this: in order to keep them I have to give them away." [00:193:44]

"Paul writes to the church of Rome since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain, for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made." [00:237:439]

"There's a distinction between what is unseen and what is seen or in the epistle to the Hebrews it says in chapter 11. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." [00:261:28]

"And this distinction about what is seen and what is unseen actually applies as well to persons. Nobody has ever seen an idea or a choice or a thought or love but they are very real. The realm of the spiritual is unseen you can't see it in the same way that you can see leaves and trees." [00:289:36]

"Therefore we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal. And so I focus not on what our world often is tempted to tell us is most real money, possessions, title, office and so on but what is unseen love and joy and peace." [00:362:8]

"One of the ways on our very first date that I knew I really loved Nancy, well actually I didn't know love at that point but I knew I was drawn to her, I liked her, was we went to a grocery store and they were having a big ad campaign way back then." [00:400:08]

"When you experience beauty and creation it's a natural thing you want to tell a friend when you fall in love you want to tell a friend when you read a great book you want to tell a friend and when you do that as you share that your own joy your own delight your own gratitude expands." [00:465:919]

"How can I serve today how can I bring joy to another person today, how can I bring comfort to another person today how can I encourage another person today because it turns out the only way to keep it is to give it away." [00:510:479]

"Tolstoy wrote that there are actually two gods, there is the god who serves me god give me what I want, and usually that involves the scene realm the lesser realm, god give me the circumstances give me the money give me the health give me the whatever it is that I want." [00:529:279]

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Transcript
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