Love as the Foundation of Generous Giving

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often revisit the core tenets of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Today, we delve into the profound and often challenging topic of giving, not just as a financial obligation but as an expression of love. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13:3, we are reminded that even the most sacrificial acts, if not motivated by love, are meaningless. This underscores the importance of love as the driving force behind our actions, especially in giving.

Imagine the scenario where you are asked to give away half of your possessions. The question isn't about the feasibility of such an act but rather about the lordship of Christ in your life. If God were to command such a sacrifice, would you comply? This question challenges us to examine whether we truly acknowledge God as the Lord of our lives, where His commands are met with obedience, not reluctance.

The standard God sets for us is not a mere percentage but a call to love. This love is not abstract but tangible, as illustrated by the story of a young girl in a refugee camp. If we were truly in love with her, our actions would naturally reflect that love. This is the essence of Christian love—seeing others as ourselves and acting accordingly.

Matthew 25 provides a vivid picture of the final judgment, where Jesus separates the sheep from the goats based on their love for the least of these. This passage is a stark reminder that our love for others is a direct reflection of our love for God. It challenges us to see our actions towards others as actions towards Christ Himself.

Ultimately, the call to love is a call to action. It is not about earning salvation through works but about demonstrating the transformative power of true belief. Our love for others, especially the poor and needy, is a testament to the love of Christ within us. As we strive to love more deeply, we find that in giving, we receive the greatest joy and contentment.

Key Takeaways:

- Love is the ultimate motivation for giving. Without love, even the most sacrificial acts are meaningless. This challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure that our actions are driven by genuine love for God and others. [01:02]

- The concept of lordship is central to our faith. If God were to command us to give away a significant portion of our possessions, our response would reveal whether we truly acknowledge Him as Lord. This is a call to complete submission and obedience. [05:40]

- God's standard for us is love, not a percentage. This love is tangible and requires us to see others as ourselves, acting in ways that reflect genuine care and concern. It is a call to love deeply and sacrificially. [11:17]

- Our actions towards others are a reflection of our love for God. Matthew 25 reminds us that caring for the least of these is equivalent to caring for Christ Himself. This challenges us to see our interactions with others as opportunities to love God. [20:27]

- True belief is demonstrated through action. Our love for others, especially the poor, is a testament to the love of Christ within us. This is not about earning salvation but about living out the transformative power of faith. [23:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Redefining Membership
- [00:35] - Revisiting the Topic of Giving
- [01:02] - The Motivation of Love
- [02:30] - The Importance of Love in Sacrifice
- [04:15] - The Challenge of Giving
- [06:08] - God's Standard: Love
- [07:22] - Loving Others as Ourselves
- [09:24] - Trusting God's Provision
- [11:17] - The Call to Love
- [13:29] - Loving God with Our Resources
- [15:07] - The Return of Christ
- [18:19] - The Final Judgment
- [20:27] - Loving the Least of These
- [23:28] - True Belief and Action
- [27:28] - The Joy of Giving

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 13:3
2. Matthew 25:31-40
3. 1 John 3:17

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Corinthians 13:3, what is the significance of love in our actions, especially in giving? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on love as the ultimate motivation? [01:02]

2. In Matthew 25:31-40, what criteria does Jesus use to separate the sheep from the goats? How does this passage illustrate the connection between our actions towards others and our love for God? [18:19]

3. How does the sermon describe the concept of lordship in relation to giving? What does it mean to truly acknowledge God as the Lord of our lives? [05:40]

4. What example does the sermon provide to illustrate the tangible nature of love, and how does this challenge us to see others as ourselves? [07:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between love and sacrificial acts, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:3? Why is love considered essential for our actions to have meaning? [02:02]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our response to God’s commands reveals our acknowledgment of His lordship? How does this relate to the hypothetical scenario of giving away half of our possessions? [05:40]

3. How does the sermon use the story of the young girl in the refugee camp to illustrate the standard of love God calls us to? What does this example teach us about seeing others as ourselves? [07:22]

4. According to the sermon, how does Matthew 25 challenge us to view our interactions with others as opportunities to love God? What implications does this have for our daily lives? [20:27]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent act of giving you performed. Was it motivated by love, or was there another driving force? How can you ensure that love is the primary motivation in your future acts of giving? [02:02]

2. Consider the concept of lordship in your life. Are there areas where you struggle to fully submit to God’s authority? How can you work towards complete obedience and submission to His will? [05:40]

3. Think about someone in your life who is in need. How can you demonstrate tangible love towards them this week, seeing them as you see yourself? What specific actions can you take? [07:22]

4. How does the idea that our actions towards others reflect our love for God challenge your current perspective on serving others? What changes can you make to align your actions with this understanding? [20:27]

5. Identify a situation where you felt reluctant to give or help someone in need. What was the underlying reason for your reluctance, and how can you overcome it in the future? [05:40]

6. Reflect on the joy and contentment that comes from giving, as mentioned in the sermon. Can you recall a time when giving brought you unexpected joy? How can you cultivate this attitude in your daily life? [28:12]

7. How can you incorporate the principle of loving others as yourself into your financial decisions and resource management? What practical steps can you take to prioritize love in these areas? [13:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Love as the True Motivation for Giving
In our journey of faith, love must be the ultimate motivation behind our acts of giving. Without love, even the most sacrificial acts lose their meaning and purpose. This challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure that our actions are driven by genuine love for God and others. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13:3, we are reminded that love is the essence of our faith and the driving force behind our generosity. When we give out of love, we align ourselves with the heart of Christ, who gave Himself for us. [01:02]

"Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent act of giving you performed. Was it motivated by love? How can you ensure that love is the driving force behind your future acts of generosity?


Day 2: The Challenge of Lordship and Obedience
The concept of lordship is central to our faith, calling us to complete submission and obedience to God. If God were to command us to give away a significant portion of our possessions, our response would reveal whether we truly acknowledge Him as Lord. This is a profound challenge to examine the depth of our commitment and willingness to obey God's commands without reluctance. It is a call to trust in God's provision and to prioritize His will above our own desires. [05:40]

"And why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 3: God's Standard of Love Over Percentage
God's standard for us is not a mere percentage but a call to love deeply and sacrificially. This love is tangible and requires us to see others as ourselves, acting in ways that reflect genuine care and concern. It challenges us to move beyond the confines of calculated giving and to embrace a lifestyle of love that mirrors the heart of Christ. By loving others as ourselves, we fulfill the greatest commandment and demonstrate the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [11:17]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your life who needs to experience God's love through you. How can you show them tangible love and care this week?


Day 4: Reflecting God's Love Through Our Actions
Our actions towards others are a reflection of our love for God. Matthew 25 reminds us that caring for the least of these is equivalent to caring for Christ Himself. This challenges us to see our interactions with others as opportunities to love God. By serving and loving those in need, we demonstrate our devotion to Christ and our commitment to living out His teachings. It is a call to action, urging us to embody the love of Christ in our daily lives. [20:27]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can serve someone in need this week. How can this act of service reflect your love for God?


Day 5: True Belief Demonstrated Through Action
True belief is demonstrated through action, as our love for others, especially the poor, is a testament to the love of Christ within us. This is not about earning salvation but about living out the transformative power of faith. Our actions reveal the depth of our belief and the authenticity of our relationship with Christ. As we strive to love more deeply, we find that in giving, we receive the greatest joy and contentment, experiencing the fullness of life that Christ offers. [23:28]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent opportunity to help someone in need. Did you act on it? How can you be more proactive in demonstrating your faith through actions in the future?

Quotes



Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:3 he says this even if I give everything I possess to the poor even if I gave everything to the poor and surrender my body to flames he say if I don't have love it profits me nothing okay that that's a pretty important verse. [00:01:14]

No not unless that was motivated by love because even if I give everything I possessed to the poor he goes if I don't have love it profits me nothing sure those people will be helped by it they'll still gain from it but I myself I get no reward for that there's no gain to that. [00:02:02]

If I could open it up and convince you that God has commanded us to give at least 50% of everything we have and everything we receive to the poor if I could convince you to where you read it you know and I show you the verses you go ah you're right it is at least 50%. [00:04:18]

The issue is about lordship you've got some bigger issues than monetary issues it it's is do have you ever really just submitted and said Okay God whatever you say I do you're the authority you're the leader I'm the follower have you ever really accepted him as Lord of your life. [00:05:43]

His standard is not a percentage standard is love this is this is way bigger I I really mean this this is a much much heavier burden in some ways to because He commands us to love now I'm going to show you a slide okay and let me ask you a question his standard. [00:06:25]

If you loved her if you were crazy about her do you understand that's the standard God's called us to is for us in this room to not say if but to say oh yeah of of course I love her I love her like myself that's what I'm called to do that's what a Christian is. [00:11:15]

Matthew 25 reminds us that caring for the least of these is equivalent to caring for Christ Himself. This challenges us to see our interactions with others as opportunities to love God. When you care for the poor you're caring for me that's huge and he says because you've done that. [00:20:27]

Salvation does not come by works we can't earn our way there you know that salvation comes through true belief salvation comes from believing that Jesus really did die on the cross for you and really believing that he really did rise from the grave it's confessing with your mouth. [00:21:15]

If you have material possessions and you see your brother in need but you have no pity on him how how can the love of Christ be in you see that see that question he's saying look if you have stuff and someone else is in need and you don't you don't have any pity. [00:22:18]

The love of Christ I mean what did Christ do for us Christ came to those who were helpless we were helpless right ephes Ephesians 2 says we were dead we were dead in our trespasses and sins we could never earn our way to heaven we didn't we didn't have it in us. [00:22:44]

I do think it's pretty huge that In this passage the one thing that divides the two groups is their love for the poor that's all Jesus mentions here that shows me that that's a big part of our our uh our Christian Life that's a that's a big part of our our fruit. [00:23:37]

It's amazing when you start giving to others how content you become and you start using a word that you've never used before in your life enough or you go I've got enough all your life you're striving for more and more and more why because you're looking at yourself. [00:28:20]

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Transcript
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