Honor God
Help People
Serve and Give
May 18, 2018Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant . . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26b-28
1. SERVING IS FUN! These words of Jesus provide an example that is totally different from the selfish human framework we inherited from man’s fall — He came to serve. And through that, He altered the eternal course of humanity. We honor God when we help people (Matthew 5:16). When we abandon constant introspection and preoccupation with “me, me, me” and get out and serve others, we get refreshed. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NIV).
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11
2. HOW TO GIVE. Since we are made in the image of God, we are called to be givers like He is — liberal and generous. When we give, it remedies greed and self-centeredness. The Bible tells us to tithe (give ten percent) from our income to our local church (Leviticus 27:30; Matthew 23:23, Malachi 3:10). Giving in addition to a tithe is an offering, over and above our tithe. Additionally, when we give our money or goods to the poor this is called alms. It’s better to give than receive, but we do also receive! We reap when we sow. It’s a win-win situation.
3. SHOW LOVE. God wants to anoint your daily routine. Start praying on a daily basis: “Here I am, God, use me,” and let the Holy Spirit use you. The little things you do for people — a text, a thank you, a door held open, an extra tip, sharing the Gospel — are the big things. If we function in these little acts of love with the heart of a servant, we can create a revolution in our world.
It’s more blessed to give than receive!
Pastor Jeff Perry
DAILY CONFESSION:
I get to be a blessing to people – I don’t just look out for my interests, but I look out for the interests of other people. God delights in the prosperity of His people. When I refresh others, I will be refreshed, and when I sow bountifully, I reap bountifully! (Philippians 2:4; Psalm 35:27; Proverbs 11:25; 2 Corinthians 9:6).
tithe, noun
A tenth part. A portion of one’s annual income contributed voluntarily . . . especially a contribution of one tenth of one’s income for the support of the church.
Copyright © 2018 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. “tithe” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Web. 15 May 2018. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
