The Blessing “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The Blessing

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

According to Paul, Jesus said…

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Not recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

which were probably written after Paul started his missionary journey.

Paul did not need them in order to know what Jesus taught.

These words are commonly used.

It is a truth that mature people know to be true.

The context of Paul using these words

 reveals a very high level of maturity.

Paul is getting ready to leave the people of Ephesus.

Paul reveals why giving is such a blessing to him…

    

“I consider my life worth nothing to me,

 if only I may finish the race and complete the

task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of

 testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”

Paul does not expect anything in return…

"Now I know that none of you among whom

I have gone about preaching the kingdom

 will ever see me again.”

Paul reveals how long he gave and how hard it was…

“Remember that for three years I never stopped

 warning each of you night and day with tears.”

Paul tells us how he provided not only

for himself but for those with him…

“You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied

 my own needs and the needs of my companions.”

Paul makes an example of himself…

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind

 of hard work we must help the weak.”

Do we really know the blessing of giving the Gospel to others?

Are we willing to work hard to spend that hard

earned money on reaching others for Christ?

Paul did not work to have what his neighbor had…

“I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.”

What are you and I after in life?

What blessing are we seeking?

Remember the Words of Jesus who gave His life…

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Scripture Reading

Acts 20:22-38 NIV

22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.   27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:

 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.