Intentional Living: Reflecting God's Love Through Giving
Summary
In this message, we explore the profound intentionality of God's gift to humanity through Jesus Christ. The prophecy from Isaiah 9:6-7 reminds us of the divine purpose and love behind the birth of Jesus, who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This intentionality is mirrored in our lives as we are called to be deliberate in our words, actions, and giving. Just as God gave His Son with purpose, we too must be intentional in how we use our time, talents, and treasures.
The concept of intentional giving is further illustrated through the parable of the widow's offering. Jesus highlights that the value of a gift is not in its monetary worth but in the heart and sacrifice behind it. This teaches us that even the smallest acts of generosity, when given with a sincere heart, hold immense value in the eyes of God. Our giving should not be out of obligation or pressure but should be a joyful response to God's grace and provision in our lives.
Moreover, the story of the wise men and their gifts to Jesus emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing the divine. Their journey and offerings were acts of worship and acknowledgment of Jesus' kingship and deity. This challenges us to reflect on what we bring to Jesus and how we honor Him with our lives.
As we navigate our daily lives, we are encouraged to embody the joy and hope that Jesus brings. Our faith should be childlike, full of trust and wonder, even when we don't understand everything happening around us. We are reminded to be places where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. This is the essence of living a life that reflects the love and joy of Christ.
Finally, we are called to make room for Jesus in every aspect of our lives, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This complete devotion allows us to experience the abundant life He promises and to be vessels of His love and grace to others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Intentionality in Giving: Just as God was intentional in giving His Son, we are called to be deliberate in our giving. Our words, actions, and resources should be used purposefully to bless others and reflect God's love. The value of our gifts lies not in their size but in the heart and intention behind them. [02:37]
2. The Widow's Offering: The story of the widow's offering teaches us that true generosity is measured by the sacrifice and heart behind the gift, not its monetary value. Even small acts of giving can have profound significance when done with love and sincerity. [10:24]
3. Recognizing Divine Value: The wise men's gifts to Jesus remind us to honor and recognize the divine in our lives. Our offerings to God should be acts of worship, acknowledging His kingship and presence in our lives. [12:48]
4. Living with Joy and Hope: We are encouraged to live with a childlike faith, full of joy and hope, even amidst life's uncertainties. Our lives should be places where God's presence is evident, love is felt, and transformation occurs. [27:48]
5. Complete Devotion to God: Making room for Jesus in every aspect of our lives involves loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This total devotion allows us to experience His abundant life and be conduits of His love to others. [35:49]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:37] - Intentionality in God's Gift
- [03:20] - The Power of Words and Actions
- [04:06] - Generosity and Giving
- [05:25] - Spiritual and Material Poverty
- [07:18] - The Birth of Hope
- [08:39] - The Widow's Offering
- [09:28] - The Value of Sacrifice
- [10:24] - Heart Over Amount
- [12:48] - The Wise Men's Gifts
- [14:42] - Recognizing Jesus' Deity
- [16:32] - Faith, Hope, and Love
- [25:59] - Childlike Faith and Joy
- [27:48] - Being a Place of Transformation
- [35:49] - Complete Devotion to God
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 9:6-7 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
3. Mark 12:41-44 - The story of the widow's offering.
#### Observation Questions
1. What titles are given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, and what do they signify about His role and character? [02:37]
2. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, what is the relationship between the way we give and the results we receive? [04:06]
3. In the story of the widow's offering, what did Jesus highlight about the widow's gift compared to others? [10:24]
4. How did the wise men demonstrate their recognition of Jesus' divine value through their actions? [12:48]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7 reflect God's intentionality in sending Jesus, and what does this reveal about His love for humanity? [02:37]
2. What does the principle of sowing and reaping in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 teach us about the nature of generosity and God's provision? [04:06]
3. Why does Jesus consider the widow's offering more valuable than the larger contributions of the wealthy, and what does this teach about the heart behind giving? [10:24]
4. How do the gifts of the wise men serve as acts of worship, and what can we learn from their example about honoring Jesus in our lives? [12:48]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current approach to giving. How can you be more intentional in using your time, talents, and treasures to bless others and reflect God's love? [03:20]
2. Consider a recent act of generosity you performed. Was it done out of obligation or joy? How can you cultivate a heart that gives cheerfully and sincerely? [04:06]
3. Think about a time when you recognized the divine value in a situation or person. How did you respond, and how can you better honor Jesus in similar situations in the future? [12:48]
4. In what ways can you embody childlike faith, joy, and hope in your daily life, especially during challenging times? [27:48]
5. Identify an area of your life where you need to make more room for Jesus. What practical steps can you take to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? [35:49]
6. How can you be a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed in your community or family? [29:59]
7. Reflect on the story of the widow's offering. How can you apply the lesson of giving from the heart in your financial decisions and interactions with others? [10:24]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Intentionality in Our Giving
Our giving should reflect the intentionality of God's gift to us. Just as God purposefully gave His Son, we are called to be deliberate in how we use our resources, time, and talents. The true value of our gifts lies not in their size or monetary worth but in the heart and intention behind them. This means that every act of giving, no matter how small, can be significant when done with love and purpose. We are encouraged to give joyfully and intentionally, as a response to God's grace and provision in our lives. [02:37]
"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: Think of a recent opportunity to give—whether time, talent, or treasure. How can you approach your next opportunity with more intentionality and joy?
Day 2: The Heart of Generosity
The story of the widow's offering teaches us that true generosity is measured by the sacrifice and heart behind the gift, not its monetary value. Jesus highlights that even the smallest acts of giving can have profound significance when done with love and sincerity. This challenges us to examine our motives and the condition of our hearts when we give. Are we giving out of obligation, or are we giving as a joyful response to God's love? Our generosity should be a reflection of our gratitude and trust in God's provision. [10:24]
"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny." (Mark 12:41-42, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a time when you gave something that required a personal sacrifice. How did it feel, and what did you learn about your own heart in the process?
Day 3: Honoring the Divine
The wise men's gifts to Jesus remind us to honor and recognize the divine in our lives. Their journey and offerings were acts of worship, acknowledging Jesus' kingship and deity. This challenges us to reflect on what we bring to Jesus and how we honor Him with our lives. Our offerings to God should be acts of worship, acknowledging His presence and sovereignty in our lives. We are called to recognize the divine value in our daily lives and respond with reverence and gratitude. [12:48]
"And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can honor Jesus in your daily life this week? Consider a specific action or offering that acknowledges His presence and kingship.
Day 4: Living with Childlike Faith
We are encouraged to live with a childlike faith, full of joy and hope, even amidst life's uncertainties. This means trusting God with a sense of wonder and openness, even when we don't understand everything happening around us. Our lives should be places where God's presence is evident, love is felt, and transformation occurs. By embodying the joy and hope that Jesus brings, we become beacons of His love and grace to others. [27:48]
"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:15, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully. How can you approach this area with a more childlike faith and openness?
Day 5: Complete Devotion to God
Making room for Jesus in every aspect of our lives involves loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This total devotion allows us to experience His abundant life and be conduits of His love to others. We are called to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, ensuring that every part of our lives reflects His love and grace. By doing so, we become vessels of His transformative power in the world. [35:49]
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you have not fully made room for Jesus. What steps can you take this week to invite Him into that space and deepen your devotion?
Quotes
Our words are so important, so we have to be intentional in our words, in our time, our talent, our treasure. You got to be intentional. Remember this, it says in 2 Corinthians 9, 6, 7, 8 through 12. It says, a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a what? Small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. [00:03:11] (25 seconds)
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. Sometimes you kind of wonder, how much do I give? How much do I sow into it? Well, the one thing I do know is, hey, there's different types of soil. Make sure you sow in the right soil. Make sure that the ground is worked over. [00:03:43] (22 seconds)
You got to be very intentional in your giving. And then it says, don't be reluctant or respond to pressure. For God loves a person who what? Gives. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. [00:04:06] (23 seconds)
They're not, some people are just, they're not poor financially, but they're poor spiritually. How many people you know, they just, they're, they have no love in their life. They have no joy in their life. They have no cheer, glad tidings, good news. They have no peace that surpasses all understanding. [00:04:37] (21 seconds)
The birth of Jesus brings a hope. We can be that messenger of hope in the world. That needs a joy. That needs a hope. That needs a joy. And see, when you understand that, there's a value that comes to that gift. When you drive into the giving that God has called us to do the way that he did, there's value to the gift. [00:08:00] (23 seconds)
Jesus said it this way when he said, I tell you the truth, guys. This poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus. But she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on. [00:10:24] (25 seconds)
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