This Week’s Recovery Application Challenge
Please click on TWIRL 035 before proceeding to this application challenge.
Better to Give? Better How? Better for Who?
When emphasizing “more blessed” in the Acts 20:35 passage, it helps to define the word ‘blessed’ or ‘bless’. The dictionary, written by people, tends to approach the matter of blessing as a religious thing regarding reverence to God and such. I suppose that’s alright. Or, the definition of being blessed is approached in the realm of happiness, or prosperity. I suppose that’s fine to, but it seems then to confuse this matter of how we are more blessed when we give.
- HOW is giving better than receiving?
Once again, think of the time when you gave of yourself, perhaps even sacrificed something; when you did the good and right thing but did not feel all that good about it. My wife and I were having to stand outside on a cold, windy, drizzly day. She was not wearing the proper clothing for the weather conditions. Being the wonderful husband that I am, offered her my coat. She refused, because she new that I would be cold, but I insisted and began to take off my jacket to give to her. She accepted it, and while I suppose it did my heart good to see that she was more comfortable, I became quite cold. While I believe I did the kind and gracious thing, there is no doubt that my wife was more blessed receiving than I was giving.
- What have you done for someone that was good for them, but proved to make things more difficult for you?
The Bible defines blessed as the matter of being in, and receiving, God’s favor. Aside from anything else in any are of your life, the place to be is in God’s favor. That is how you and I are more blessed when we give. While it runs contrary to the worldly system of giving to get, we give to give back to God in whatever way we can for all that He has done for us. Because of Christ’s sacrifice we have been reconciled to God, restored into fellowship, with full access to blessing, healing, and providence in relationship with Jesus.
- How would you say the Bible’s approach to blessing, the gift of God’s favor, might be different to the world’s approach to blessing? Provide an example.
- What did Jesus, the human being, get from his sacrifice dying on the cross? He gave and we received?
- How was Jesus “more blessed” while on earth?
- What are you doing these days that can be considered selfless sacrifice? Please list some specific things that cost you physically, emotionally, and/or materially (financially).
- Which of the things on your list might you be less likely to continue to do if you knew you will not experience “blessing” for your sacrifice? (Please do not gloss over this question)
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)
The truth of what it means that it is better—more blessed—to give than receive is tied into the bigger picture. While actions of selfless sacrifice might not feel all that blessed at that time or any time, there is a far greater reward that transcends anything we value in our selfish flesh. Jesus was elevated from the lowliest of low, to the highest place in any universe and reality. He experienced resurrection and transformation. Not only healing and transformation in his earthly human body, considering that he lived as a man on the earth for another six weeks or so, but then was resurrected from his mortal humanity and transformed into spiritual immortality.
- How was Jesus “more blessed”, according to Philippians 2:9-11?
- How might you say that this same truth apply to you?
What do you say we take a look at what Scripture says about it:
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 35-38, 42-43, 51-55 (NLT)
Please get this truth and let it resonate with you—in you. We may never experience the blessing of our selfless acts of sacrifice and giving in this life according to the standards of self-centered reward and satisfaction. Something is coming that will render any earthly reward or “blessing” worthless and irrelevant. We will live with Jesus in a place of glory, free from need and discontentment.
How much better does it get than that?
- What is the potential for being “more blessed” from a spiritual perspective?
- What if, like Jesus, you do not receive another blessing in this life for your giving, but instead you receive it all in glory? Is it worth it to give selflessly, even at great cost to you? Explain.
- Considering the incredible blessing that awaits, in what ways might you be more willing to give to be a blessing, knowing it will cost you?
- Please take some time to pray and ask God how you can be His servant. Ask God to bless you with the courage and strength to give selflessly and sacrificially.
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