Living in Self-Giving Love: A Covenant Perspective

 

Summary

In the beginning, God created a world that was distinct from the narratives of other ancient Near Eastern cultures. While many of these cultures viewed creation as a transactional relationship between humans and gods, Genesis presents a radically different perspective. In those ancient stories, humans were created to serve the gods, providing for their needs through rituals and sacrifices. This symbiotic relationship was based on a quid pro quo: humans would meet the gods' needs, and in return, the gods would offer protection and provision.

However, the Genesis account introduces a God who is not dependent on human offerings. This God is supremely good and desires a covenant relationship with humanity, not based on transactions but on self-giving love. This ethical monotheism, where one God is both the creator and the epitome of goodness, was revolutionary. It shifted the focus from a transactional existence to a life immersed in love and moral responsibility.

The essence of this message is that life is not about what we can get from others or from God, but about how we can give and receive love. The purpose of our lives is to be immersed in self-giving love, reflecting the character of God. This love is not indulgent or thoughtless but seeks to enhance others, challenge them, and speak truth into their lives. It is about living in a better story, one that is not defined by transactions but by the transformative power of love.

As we embrace this understanding, we are invited to ask ourselves daily how we can add value to the lives of others. How can we be useful, not out of anxiety or obligation, but out of a genuine desire to reflect God's love? This is the call to live a life of self-giving love, to be aware of God's presence with us, and to let Him work through us to create a community of love and generosity.

Key Takeaways:

- The Genesis account of creation presents a God who desires a covenant relationship with humanity, based on self-giving love rather than transactional exchanges. This God is supremely good and not dependent on human offerings. [06:12]

- Ethical monotheism introduced by Israel emphasizes that there is one God who is both the creator and the epitome of goodness. This shifts the focus from a transactional existence to a life immersed in love and moral responsibility. [06:58]

- Life is not about what we can get from others or from God, but about how we can give and receive love. The purpose of our lives is to be immersed in self-giving love, reflecting the character of God. [09:22]

- We are invited to ask ourselves daily how we can add value to the lives of others, not out of anxiety or obligation, but out of a genuine desire to reflect God's love. This is the call to live a life of self-giving love. [10:57]

- The God of Genesis is not the god of quid pro quo or great transactions but the God of the cross, who embodies self-giving love. Our lives should reflect this love, creating a community of generosity and care. [11:35]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - Finding God in Each Moment
[00:52] - Genesis vs. Ancient Near Eastern Accounts
[01:10] - Cultural River of Creation Stories
[01:25] - The Unique Story of Israel
[02:12] - Why Genesis Endured
[03:06] - The Role of Humans in Ancient Stories
[04:04] - The Great Symbiosis
[05:24] - The Marvel Universe of Gods
[05:43] - The Story of Genesis
[06:12] - The Core of Israel's Story
[06:58] - Ethical Monotheism
[07:29] - Covenant Relationship
[08:56] - The God of Self-Giving Love
[09:22] - Purpose of Life: Self-Giving Love
[11:35] - Living Beyond Transactions
[12:02] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1-2:3 - The Creation Account
2. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - The Shema and Ethical Monotheism
3. 1 John 4:7-12 - God's Love and Our Call to Love

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the Genesis creation account differ from other ancient Near Eastern creation stories in terms of the relationship between humans and God? [06:12]

2. What is the "great symbiosis" mentioned in the sermon, and how does it contrast with the Genesis account of creation? [04:04]

3. According to the sermon, what is the core message of Israel's story in Genesis, and how does it redefine the concept of God? [06:12]

4. How does the sermon describe the purpose of life according to the Genesis account, and what role does self-giving love play in it? [09:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the concept of ethical monotheism introduced by Israel imply about the nature of God and our moral responsibilities? [06:58]

2. How does the idea of a covenant relationship with God, as opposed to a transactional one, change the way we view our interactions with God and others? [07:29]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that living a life of self-giving love reflects the character of God? [09:22]

4. How does the sermon challenge the notion of a quid pro quo relationship with God, and what implications does this have for our daily lives? [11:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you shift from a transactional mindset to one of self-giving love in your relationships? [09:22]

2. Identify a specific way you can add value to someone's life this week, not out of obligation, but from a genuine desire to reflect God's love. [10:57]

3. Consider a relationship in your life that feels transactional. What steps can you take to transform it into a covenant relationship based on love and generosity? [07:29]

4. How can you become more aware of God's presence in your daily life and allow Him to work through you to create a community of love and generosity? [09:37]

5. Think of a time when you acted out of self-interest rather than self-giving love. What can you learn from that experience, and how can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [11:35]

6. How can you challenge yourself to speak truth and enhance the lives of others in a loving and constructive way? [10:30]

7. Reflect on the idea of God as the "God of the cross" and self-giving love. How does this understanding influence your view of sacrifice and service in your life? [11:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Covenant of Self-Giving Love
The Genesis account presents a God who desires a covenant relationship with humanity, not based on transactions but on self-giving love. Unlike the gods of other ancient Near Eastern cultures, who required humans to serve their needs through rituals and sacrifices, the God of Genesis is supremely good and independent of human offerings. This God seeks a relationship with humanity that is rooted in love and generosity, inviting people to live in a way that reflects His character. This revolutionary perspective shifts the focus from a transactional existence to a life immersed in love and moral responsibility. [06:12]

Isaiah 54:10 (ESV): "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Reflection: How can you embody self-giving love in your relationships today, reflecting the covenant God desires with humanity?


Day 2: Ethical Monotheism and Moral Responsibility
Ethical monotheism, as introduced by Israel, emphasizes that there is one God who is both the creator and the epitome of goodness. This understanding shifts the focus from a transactional existence, where humans serve gods for protection and provision, to a life immersed in love and moral responsibility. The God of Genesis calls people to live in a way that reflects His goodness, challenging them to move beyond self-interest and embrace a life of ethical living and love. This perspective invites individuals to consider how their actions can reflect the character of God in their daily lives. [06:58]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: In what ways can you practice justice, kindness, and humility today, reflecting the ethical monotheism of the God of Genesis?


Day 3: Purpose of Life: Immersed in Love
Life is not about what we can get from others or from God, but about how we can give and receive love. The purpose of our lives is to be immersed in self-giving love, reflecting the character of God. This love is not indulgent or thoughtless but seeks to enhance others, challenge them, and speak truth into their lives. By living in a better story, one that is not defined by transactions but by the transformative power of love, individuals can find true fulfillment and purpose. This perspective invites people to consider how they can live a life that is centered on love and generosity. [09:22]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: How can you intentionally give and receive love today, enhancing the lives of those around you?


Day 4: Adding Value to Others' Lives
We are invited to ask ourselves daily how we can add value to the lives of others, not out of anxiety or obligation, but out of a genuine desire to reflect God's love. This call to live a life of self-giving love challenges individuals to be aware of God's presence and to let Him work through them to create a community of love and generosity. By focusing on how they can be useful and enhance the lives of others, people can reflect the character of God and contribute to a world that is defined by love and care. [10:57]

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can add value to someone's life today, reflecting God's love and generosity?


Day 5: Living Beyond Transactions
The God of Genesis is not the god of quid pro quo or great transactions but the God of the cross, who embodies self-giving love. Our lives should reflect this love, creating a community of generosity and care. By moving beyond a transactional mindset, individuals can embrace a life that is centered on love and selflessness, reflecting the character of God. This perspective invites people to consider how they can live in a way that is defined by love and generosity, contributing to a world that is marked by care and compassion. [11:35]

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

Reflection: How can you move beyond a transactional mindset today, embodying self-giving love in your interactions with others?

Quotes


In ancient near Eastern creation stories, there are basically two major aspects of the role of human beings: they were created, one, in order to take over the Drudge work of the Gods, and number two, to serve the Gods in performance of rituals through provisioning the deities in the temples. [00:33:20]

The foundation of religion and Mesopotamia is this was uh the thought among Israel's neighbors: the human beings have been created to serve the gods by meeting their needs, the God's needs for food—that's what sacrifices were about—for housing—that's why temples got built—and clothing and generally given them worship and privacy. [00:42:36]

The other side of the symbiosis is the gods will provide their investment by protecting their worshipers and providing for them. So, uh, this great symbiosis might also be thought of as the great transaction. In the ancient world, the general idea was that life is about getting the good things that you want. [00:46:18]

The story of Genesis is incredibly different from this. This is part of why, for example, in the ancient near Eastern stories, there would be no account of a fall because the idea of a fall or sin implies the notion it rests on the notion that there is a God who wants to be in a relationship with you. [00:55:37]

What is at the core of the story of Israel in its understanding of the world is a God who is a supremely good god. Somebody asked John Walton one time, who's the most underestimated character in all of the Bible, and his immediate response was that would be God. [01:03:03]

There is one God and not only is he the creator of everything and the most powerful being, he's just the best, and so goodness, our sense of right and wrong, our capacity to live as moral agents, comes from that God. [01:10:18]

Instead of a great quid pro quo or liking about this great transaction—how can I get what I want, this symbiotic relationship or I take care of the powers, whatever they are, and then they will take care of me—survival of the fittest, the selfish Gene, instead there is what Israel called a covenant relationship. [01:14:02]

Only Israel in all the ancient world of all of those peoples believe there was a God who entered into a covenant with his people, but what was staggeringly different about this Covenant was what the people get from God is his love, his protection, his care, Manna for the day, grace, forgiveness, guidance, wisdom, instruction about what is good. [01:21:18]

The God Who created everything there is doesn't need anything. God says if I had needs I would not tell you about it, and what that means is life, the universe is not built as a series of transactions. It's not about how do I get the stuff that I want. [01:30:30]

The purpose of your life is to be immersed in self-giving love, so the question today is, how can I be receiving that love from God right now while I'm talking to you, to be aware that God is right here with me, and you will if I ask him speak through me somehow. [01:33:42]

Receive love from The God Who is not the god of the quid pro quo, not the god of the great transaction, not the symbiotic here's what I'll get from you, you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back, the god of the cross, the god of self-giving love. [01:55:20]

And then God, how can I add value in this moment, in this conversation, with this person, end of teaching, beginning of your self-giving loving day together with the god of new beginnings. [02:01:56]

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Transcript
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