Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

It Is More Blessed To Give

Today’s devotional is about the life of Jesus yet the passage we share today is not in the gospels. Luke is telling Theophilus of something Jesus said that is not recorded in any of the four gospels including his own. John reminds us that if all the words of Jesus were written down the world itself could not contain them all. Paul wrote by inspiration and as he did with the Lord’s proclamation of the supper he would have knowledge of this by the Holy Spirit.

The context of Paul’s use is his exhortation to the shepherds of the Ephesian church. One can only imagine the context Jesus would have said such a thing but what a powerful example of the life of Jesus. The Lord came to give. He came to give His life. Considering not His own place with His father as something to be grasp He left the heavenly abode and gave Himself for those He created. Man rejected His nature, reviled His teaching, mocked His power and cried out to crucify Him. He was spit on, beaten, scorned and mocked, scourged and finally nail to a piece of wood. It was more blessed for Him to give His life than to receive the accolades of men and earthly honor. He came to give Himself so that He could receive honor from His Father.

Because of His humility in giving Himself for you and me the Father exalted Him. When we learn the lesson of giving over the need of receiving we will learn the lesson Jesus died for. The only peace worth having is when we give. True devotion is found in the act of giving. Jesus not only gave Himself – He gave all of Himself. We can do no less.

Monday is a glorious day to think about giving. Plan this week to give. Make opportunities to give of yourself this week by helping others. Give time to those who are shut-in. Give a word of encouragement to someone who needs a good word. Give a hug to a needy shoulder. Give a message of hope by sending a few notes this week the old fashioned way – ‘snail mail.’ Give your spouse an ‘I Love You” moment and tell your children you love them. When you get through all this giving this week and Saturday rolls around – what a week you will have. And then you will understand – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The finest gifts are given, not after waiting until need has to ask, but by the person whose eye sees, whose heart feels, and whose hand is stretched out even before any request is made. (William Barclay)