Five Invitations - Day 15
Day 15 - A Life of Giving
James 1:17
How can money help our relationship with God?
Money moves us toward God when we trust God enough to give.
So, how do you prioritize giving to connect with God?
That’s a loaded question and it’s loaded by design. It’s not an easy “yes” or “no.” First, you have to look at how you’re using your money now. You have to examine your attitudes, goals, and habits. Second, you have to think about how you’ll use money over time. What do you dream of doing with money? Third, you have to understand your approach to giving. Do you give when you feel like it, when there’s “money left over,” or do you prioritize and plan giving? Finally, you’ve got to understand the spiritual consequences of how we use material things. You must be convinced that you can use money in a way that moves you closer to God.
Jesus makes clear the spiritual importance of giving. Jesus’s whole life is all about giving. He said, “The Son of Man came…to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:35, NIV). Jesus didn’t have a death wish. He was willing to give his life for us because he trusted God the Father to raise him to life again. After all, “every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father” (Jm 1:17, NIV).
Why did Jesus give? In Galatians 2:20 Pauls says, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NIV). Jesus gave himself to God because he loves you. Jesus’s unique act of giving moves us all closer to the Father.
Giving even earned Jesus an inheritance. He earned the world. He earned you! Jesus was blessed because he gave. That’s what happened to Jesus - and it can happen to us, too.
REFLECT:
What is one tangible step you need to take to prioritize giving in the next few months?
PRAY:
Every good and perfect gift comes from you, Father. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Help me to use all your gifts to bless others. Amen.
James 1:17
How can money help our relationship with God?
Money moves us toward God when we trust God enough to give.
So, how do you prioritize giving to connect with God?
That’s a loaded question and it’s loaded by design. It’s not an easy “yes” or “no.” First, you have to look at how you’re using your money now. You have to examine your attitudes, goals, and habits. Second, you have to think about how you’ll use money over time. What do you dream of doing with money? Third, you have to understand your approach to giving. Do you give when you feel like it, when there’s “money left over,” or do you prioritize and plan giving? Finally, you’ve got to understand the spiritual consequences of how we use material things. You must be convinced that you can use money in a way that moves you closer to God.
Jesus makes clear the spiritual importance of giving. Jesus’s whole life is all about giving. He said, “The Son of Man came…to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:35, NIV). Jesus didn’t have a death wish. He was willing to give his life for us because he trusted God the Father to raise him to life again. After all, “every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father” (Jm 1:17, NIV).
Why did Jesus give? In Galatians 2:20 Pauls says, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NIV). Jesus gave himself to God because he loves you. Jesus’s unique act of giving moves us all closer to the Father.
Giving even earned Jesus an inheritance. He earned the world. He earned you! Jesus was blessed because he gave. That’s what happened to Jesus - and it can happen to us, too.
REFLECT:
What is one tangible step you need to take to prioritize giving in the next few months?
PRAY:
Every good and perfect gift comes from you, Father. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Help me to use all your gifts to bless others. Amen.
Posted in Fall 2022
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February
The Way DAY 9 - Full of the Holy SpiritThe Way DAY 10 - Defeating Your DefeatersThe Way DAY 11 - The Year of JubileeThe Way DAY 12 - FreedomThe Way DAY 13 - Freedom to LoveThe Way DAY 14 - Ditch "What About Me"The Way DAY 15 - The Way of LoveThe Way DAY 16 - The TeacherThe Way DAY 17 - What is the Kingdom of God?The Way DAY 18 - Trust and ObeyThe Way DAY 19 - Follow MeThe Way DAY 20 - Differences and DisagreementsThe Way DAY 21 - Jesus and Mr. RogersThe Way DAY 22 - Respond Like JesusThe Way DAY 23 - Bend Toward MercyThe Way DAY 24 - Burden or Bless?The Way DAY 25 - BONUS: The TwelveThe Way DAY 26 - Happy?The Way DAY 27 - Excessive GenerosityThe Way DAY 28 - What is Love?The Way DAY 29 - Give What God Gives
March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily Denial
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June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
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Revelation Day 42 - The Ugliness of EvilRevelation Day 43 - God's WrathRevelation Day 44 - God's DelightRevelation Day 45 - God's Just-nessRevelation Day 46 - The Wild Woman on a DragonRevelation Day 47 - Why a Wild Woman?Revelation Day 48 - Why is Babylon So Bad?Revelation Day 49 - Get OutRevelation Day 50 - Renew Your VowsRevelation Day 51 - He Shall Come AgainRevelation Day 52 - We Will Be Judged