Freely you have received...

Freely you have received; freely give.
Today’s message focus on the fact that all that we have are freely given to us by God and we are expected to freely give to others too. Matthew 10:8b

Biblical Giving is not limited to treasures like money, but includes sharing the Good news, helping with our talents, time, praying for others and in other capacity of service.

We learnt in the previous message that giving is essential to life and it enabled the grace of God in the church. Also in the early church, nobody lacked any good thing because there was a grace of freewill giving among them. In unity, they shared and helped one another. Acts 4 verses 32 to 35

Read Acts 4:32 to 35

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

The concept of biblical giving is in light of who lives in us. If truly we have first given ourselves to God (that means submit to God, received the gift of salvation 2Corinthians 8:5), then we will trust God with all His bestowed resources in our lives, we will not be self-centred, and we will be willing to partake in giving without any hesitation.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2Corinthians 8:5

And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

The concept of biblical giving is in light of who lives in us. Minister Tosin Alawale

Who lives in you. Christ or self?

One of the major characteristics of Christ-like people is Kingdom giving. As believers, we inherit the nature of our God; a gracious giver who gave us life and then gave His son Jesus Christ to us. True Christians exhibit love to others via giving while the self-centered ones are mostly non-believers as they lack the traits of God in them.

We also highlighted a few basic things out of many that we have received from God namely: time, talents, treasures, resources including money, home (Acts 10:2 and Joshua 24:15), forgiveness, the Good News (Matthew 10:7-8, Romans 10:9-16) and many more.

Read Acts 10:2

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Joshua 24:15

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Matthew 10:7-8

7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Romans 10:9-15

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[b]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[c]

Challenge: Be a life-giving flowing river and not a dead sea.

• Pray to be like Peter in Acts 3:6 that despite he had no money, yet he freely gave the name of Jesus to help the lame man at the Beautiful gate.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 NIV

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