It is More Blessed to Give than Receive

Q: What does the Bible say about giving and receiving?

The Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). In Acts 20:35, Paul reminds the elders at Ephesus of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing that it is more blessed to give than to receive. This statement encapsulates the Christian principle of self-sacrifice and generosity, reflecting the nature of Christ Himself, who exemplified ultimate giving by sacrificing His life for humanity. Additionally, it underscores the importance of supporting others and being a source of encouragement within the church.

Q: Why is giving more important than receiving in Christianity?

Giving reflects the nature of Christ, who embodies the principle that self-sacrifice leads to true blessing. The importance of giving in Christianity is rooted in the character of Christ, who is the greatest giver, offering His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). This self-sacrifice is not only an act of love but also a reflection of the grace believers have received. In contrast, receiving implies a need that can be seen as a sign of want or lack. By prioritizing giving, Christians can experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving others, thus promoting community and mutual support within the body of Christ.

Q: How do we know that Christ exemplifies the principle of giving?

Christ's life and sacrifice on the cross demonstrate the ultimate expression of giving. Christ exemplifies the principle of giving through His life, which was marked by service and sacrifice. In Isaiah 53:5, we see that He was wounded for our transgressions, indicating His willingness to give Himself for our redemption. Moreover, His teachings encourage believers to follow His example of generosity and selflessness. In John 15:13, Jesus states that greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends, illustrating that true giving is rooted in love for others.

Q: What does it mean to support the weak in Christian doctrine?

Supporting the weak means offering help and encouragement to those in need, reflecting the love of Christ. Supporting the weak is a significant aspect of Christian doctrine that emphasizes community and compassion. According to Acts 20:35, believers are called to remember the words of Jesus and recognize the blessedness of giving to others. This entails providing assistance, whether it be emotional, spiritual, or material, to those who are struggling. By doing so, Christians demonstrate love and fulfill the call to bear one another's burdens, thereby fostering a cohesive and loving church environment.

Acts chapter 20 we've seen reading verse 17 Paul is get called for the elders of the church at Ephesus gathered together and now this is this is part of his his speech his proclamation to them starting in verse 28 take heed says Paul therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church, pastors, elders, deacons, they all feed the church, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

So he's talking to pastors and et cetera, the leadership. For I know this, that after my departing, says Paul, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them or after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears and now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace It sounds like our Lord Jesus Christ committed himself to him that judges righteously. That's what we are to do. When we warn and we exhort and we reprove, we preach the gospel and speak the truth in love, we commend you, the brethren, and you commend me to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Now look at this, this is interesting. I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Ye yourselves know that these hands, Paul's hands, he's a minister, he's an evangelist, yes, but have ministered unto my necessities. You look up that word necessities, that's employment. That's employment.

He's talking to the pastors and elders And again, I will quote Joe Terrell, and I totally agree. If the church can fully support you, that's their business. However, for a person that cannot, there is no shame in working and pastoring. I don't care what anybody says.

I think the word of this is clear. Ye yourselves know how that these hands, not delegating responsibility, But these hands have ministered to my necessities and to them that were with us. I have showed you all things how that so laboring, what is that? Laboring, that's working.

You ought to support the weak. So if a pastor and elder works, you put it back in the church, you help support the church. If somebody has a need, you help. That's just, it's not one way, that to support the weak and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus. This is what we're gonna look at.

How he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Now in the context, it's obvious what he's talking about. It's more blessed to give. than to receive. Now, I will say this right off the bat, receiving is also a blessing. He said it's more blessing.

Sometimes we take, I'll give an example, Mary and Martha, when Mary, she's sitting at the feet of Christ, and we say, well, she's doing what she's supposed to. No, he said she's chosen the better thing. But what Martha was doing was covered about with much serving, but somebody had to prepare the meal.

So we have a tendency to, as our mind, you know, we get that narrow this way and think something that's not in the scriptures. We get narrow-minded. He's not saying that receiving is not a blessing. It is, but it's more blessed to give than to receive, and that's the phrase I want to look at. Paul says, you remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, this is not found anywhere in the four Gospels. However, this is found in the four Gospels, John chapter 21, John chapter 21 and verse 25, John 21, 25, and there are also many other things which Jesus did, and I'm assuming did, said, spoke, the which, if they should be written, every one of them, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. And look across the page, John chapter 20 and verse 30. John chapter 20 and verse 30, and many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

Okay. So I'm assuming that this was one of those sayings and one author, one author of this is a lot of, it was hard to find any, anything written on this, but some of the commentaries I had never looked at before did. And one guy said, Paul got in his boat, went out to sea and retrieved this saying, brought it back for the church. And he said, and he obviously, you know, he was persecuting Christ, but he says very clearly, remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's writing to the churches, to the elders of the churches at Ephesus.

So this is the saying is going to go, should go out. And it's a worthy saying. It's a very good saying. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Now, Paul in his exhortations and communications with the elders at Ephesus, he says in verse 35, in the last phrase, This he ascribes to our Lord's own words or usage. Now the sentence, as I said, is not found in any of the four gospels. So we can imagine this was retrieved by Paul and kept as a saying or a proverb, as one of the writers said, to his beloved church for all time.

What a word to live by. What a phrase to live by. What a phrase to die by. What a phrase to enter into glory by. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Now that's time, money, whatever. And it's talking about to the elders. But what I want to take this is I see Christ, the gospel in here. Who was the greatest giver in the history of this world? The Lord Jesus Christ. That's what we're going to look at for the most part. What a word, as I said, to live by, to know the truth, to know this truth. It is better to give than to receive. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

To know this in the heart, placed there by the Holy Spirit, convincing, is perhaps the believer's rule. It's his motto. It is truly and really points to the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel of the saving grace of God. First of all, Christ is the embodiment. or the epitome, that was the word I was trying to figure out yesterday, I couldn't come up, what is that? So I did embodiment, sounds better. Christ is the embodiment or the epitome of this phrase, how it is more blessed to give than to receive. Christ is the epitome. Our text could read, It is more blessed to give again and again than to receive again and again. Let me give you an example.

I was doing some research on the Sea of Galilee versus the Dead Sea. Side by side, they both get fed by the Jordan. The Sea of Galilee has an inflow from Jordan and an outflow, which gives it repeatedly, it's giving. It's not in a state of stagnation, okay? It's repeatedly in a state of outflow. So it means the water is lush, it's vibrant, it's nourishing, there's over 20 species of fishes, and there's all sorts of things going on. The Dead Sea, on the other hand, it gets its feed, it doesn't go out, it just stays there. So it's constantly receiving. It's a terminal sea, they call it. With only an inflow, it receives but never gives. It receives but never gives. And what do you think you find in it? No fish, no plants, no visible marine life. And if there's a person who says they're a believer, I call them takers. We've known some people like that, right? Just take, take, take, and never give. stagnant, stagnation. Christ is truly the object and lesson of our text. He's everywhere represented in this book. He is the center or hub of this inspired book.

Let's see how Christ exemplifies how it is more blessed to give than to receive. First, he only and he He and only He is the giver of all grace. If you go to somebody else for grace, you may get help financially, you may get help by their time, but nobody can impart grace but the Lord Jesus Christ. In His grace, the scripture says, is sufficient. Well, I don't know if we're talking salvation, If we're talking justification, preservation, keeping us from falling, glorification unto heaven's mansion, he's the only giver. He's the only giver.

Turn with me to John chapter one. John chapter one. Verse 16. You can say amen because this is true. We know it's true. Verse 15, John, bear witness of Christ and cry and saying, this is the he of whom I speak. He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me and of Christ's fullness have we all received grace for grace. That's spoken of and only spoken of our Lord Jesus Christ. So yes, secondly, this is a true saying as it relates to Jehovah, God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

He and he alone suffered for us. He gave his life, a ransom for many. It's more blessed to give than receive, right? He gave his life a ransom for many. He's bleeding and dying upon Calvary's tree forest. His agony was towards us because Plainly, if you look at the cross, is a full expression of giving. On the cross is a full expression, and I've said this, we've all said this, preachers have said this, full expression of his love, full expression of his mercy, full expression of his wrath at Calvary. But it's a full expression of his giving the ultimate sacrifices, giving his life a ransom for many.

This giving principle, you listen to these things, I wrote this exactly as Somebody wrote it down and copied it. This giving principle influenced Christ in eternity and the Father and the Spirit to choose unto himself a people in election. Election, if you want to say the underlying thing is Christ knew it was better to give than to receive. Also, it induced him to vacate his throne to find these lost sheep and this giving of self would eventually lead to his bloody sacrifice on Calvary's tree. So, I mean, there's many causes, and I'm not saying this is the only one, but you think about it.

He came to this earth knowing, and he said it, somebody grabbed it, inspired by the word, it's in the word, It's more blessed to give than to receive. This principle of giving of himself, like I said so many times, voluntarily, that's what amazes me. He wasn't forced. No man take it as like he gave it. That principle of giving set the whole thing up as it were.

Thirdly, you see, receiving, that would be us, implies want. Right? It implies want. I need something, so I'm going to receive it. It also implies an unfulfilled desires. It implies a greater need. We have a greater need than Christ. But as I said, receiving is not a curse, but it's a blessing as well. But it is more blessed to give. But it's still a blessing to receive. Fourthly, giving implies self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice. Who sacrificed more than any man? Christ. Turn to Isaiah 52. Turn to Isaiah 52 and verse 14. Let's look at verse 13 and see who we're talking about. We're talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Behold, My servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high, as many were astonished at Thee. As He hung on the cross, His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. That's what He underwent in His giving nature. to us who oftentimes are so slow to realize, so cold in worship, the many issues that we have. He is the ultimate giver who gave himself freely, fully and successfully, who underwent the wrath and anger of God. Do us. Christ gave all so we may be recovered, redeemed, rescued sons and daughters of Adam's race.

Turn with me to Lamentations. Lamentations chapter one. Lamentations one. Verse 12 and 13, Christ, as he's hanging on the cross, this is what was noted in prophecy. This is what was speaking of him. Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Thirteen from above he has sent fire into my bones and it prevailed against them He has spread a net from my feet. He had turned me back. He hath made me desolate and faint all the day He gave all He didn't hold anything back as many authors have said he drank the the cup of God's wrath Completely why?

Because it's more blessed to give than to receive. Fifthly, this giving is a higher privilege. It's a higher form of privilege. The higher or greater or the best, that's Christ, is blessing the lower. The needy ones are sinners. Giving by our Savior and we are to he's exhorting the elders and they go take it to the church So everybody at the church should be like this. It's more blessed to give than to receive Look for opportunities to give whatever means that would be giving by our Savior and ourselves promotes peace and happiness. Now, I know these people get on television and say, oh, it feels so good to give.

And I'm not going to deny that. But my point is, is when somebody asks us that if we're ever on the news, wouldn't it be good to say it's more blessed to give than to receive and not try to bring attention to ourselves? But you, you, why? Because you're not thinking of yourself. It's self-sacrifice.

And anytime we can come out of ourselves and help somebody else and not say anything, I say that promotes peace and happiness. Letting the right hand know what the left hand's doing. Truly, he is the most happy man, says one author, who is the most benevolent, because we know it's all of grace. We have from him what he's given us.

How spiritually miserable is that person who lives to only get gain and hoards all he can. I quoted Henry. He's got two things. It's just two. Earn all you can and give all you can. That's the two things. There's not three or four or five. It's just two. Just two.

Get all you can. I think he said get all you can so you can give all you can. Turn to Matthew 25. Let's see this in action. Matthew 25. What is this principle? And Christ apparently said it, but it's principles in the scriptures. Matthew 25, starting in verse 34. Matthew 25, starting verse 34, then shall the king, Say unto them on his right hand, come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was a hungered, and you gave me meat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was stranger, and you took me in. Naked, you clothed me. Sick, you visited me. In prison, you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we hungered, fed thee, thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we a stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we these sick in prison and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

Isn't that the principle? That is the principle. That's the principle in action. And you don't have to turn there, but he also says in Matthew 10 and verse 42, and whatsoever shall give you to drink, and whosoever shall give you to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. We don't do it for reward, but we see somebody have a need. It may just be a cup of cold water. So this sentiment, this more blessed to give than to receive, this sentiment is truly noble and great.

And does that not describe our sovereign? People talk about nobility. They don't know what nobility is until they've seen the king in his beauty. He who went about doing good, that is saving, keeping, loving his church. He gave pardon to the guilty, that's us. He gave comfort to the downcast, that's us. He gave joy to those who mourn, that's us. He gave peace to the troubled transgressor, that's us.

Sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, life to the dead, and heaven instead of hell. Romans chapter eight. Romans chapter 8, verse 32, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Romans 8, 32, he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely, uh-oh, give us all things.

I don't know how many years, I miss that. I'm looking at this and I'm like, first of all, I love the book of Acts. But I'm like, what have I been? Selfish, probably, sadly. It's just amazing. So I close with these five things. I pray that knowing this, knowing it is more blessed to give than to receive, and giving for the right reasons, and the right motives, and the right heart, I pray that these five things we would do, We would give thanks for unmerited, unasked-for grace. Everybody wake up.

I didn't ask for this, but I'm thankful that I have it. May we give thanks for unmerited, unasked-for grace. Secondly, may we be reminded of this grace daily. as we walk to our jobs back and forth, wherever we're going, may we be reminded of this daily. It's more blessed to give than receive. I pray thirdly that we would do likewise with our resources, whether it's money, time, efforts to relieve sinners all around us.

That's what it's about. You do something and then somebody's gonna say, they're gonna ask you, Why are you doing this? In another phrase, how is your beloved more than any other beloved? Turn with me to 1 Chronicles 29. This is kind of what Bruce was teaching, I think. He makes his people willing in the day of his power. Well, this is another one of those phrases. 1 Corinthians 29, verse 13 and 14.

This is, I pray, we would do likewise with our resources. It's not about us. It's not about getting what we want. It's looking out. It's amazing. I remember Henry making a comment, and it's so true. He says he knows people who are unbelievers who are much more gracious than people who say they have grace. but that may go back to the half-full, half-empty thing. That's how humanly... Peter was different than Paul. Paul was different than Timothy. You know, we all have different personalities. But look at this, 1 Corinthians 29. Look at verse 13.

Now, therefore, our God, believer, we thank thee and praise thy glorious name. We ought to always do that. But who am I and what is my people? that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort. Look at this last phrase, for all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee. Everything we have is a gift.

That's, he makes his people willing in his power. I like how that's worded. Because he's thanking the Lord in verse 13 and then he says, who am I? Like the thief on the cross. Cast in the same, in Christ's teeth, both of them, and then one of them, he's like, but we just, we're up here justly. We deserve this condemnation, but not him. And then he just looks, Lord, remember me. And what is Christ going to say?

It's more blessed to give. And I give unto you. Eternal life. You're going to be with me this day, this moment, after this flesh goes away, you're going to be with me in paradise. I like that. For all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee. Well, that's the third thing.

Fourthly, to have an honorable discharge of our calling here in Jackson. We're not here in Jackson by accident. We're not. Nobody, we're not here in this place by accident. What is our calling? What is our calling? May we be honorable in the discharge of our calling here in Jackson and not wasting it on worldly pursuits. What is Paul's talking?

Take heed therefore unto yourselves. You've got to study to show yourself approved. and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you the overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." That may be physically come over for a meal, that may be feed spiritual food, that may be encouraging, that may be whatever it might be. So we have, may we have an honorable discharge of our calling here in Jackson. And lastly, Let us redeem the time, seek to do good, tell people the gospel of the grace of God in our lords, giving himself a ransom for many.

That's, I mean, like Bruce said it today, you know, what is the most important thing? We can do this and we can do that. And we all want to be successful in life and have good jobs and this and that. But that's still not the most important thing. So may we quit running around And may we just look to him. May we just look to him and see how he was the epitome of that passage. It's more blessed to give. And if he didn't give, we would be of all men most miserable. Bruce, would you close us please?

It is More Blessed to Give than Receive

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about giving and receiving?

Why is giving more important than receiving in Christianity?

How do we know that Christ exemplifies the principle of giving?

What does it mean to support the weak in Christian doctrine?

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It is More Blessed to Give than Receive

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about giving and receiving?

Why is giving more important than receiving in Christianity?

How do we know that Christ exemplifies the principle of giving?

What does it mean to support the weak in Christian doctrine?

Sermon Transcript

About Drew Dietz

Comments

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