Day 6: A Better Blessing
Listen to Devotional
Transcript
When we think of the word “blessing,” our minds often go straight to receiving—whether it’s a bonus at work, a thoughtful gift, or someone’s help when we need it most. Those are all great blessings. And receiving feels good because it meets a need or desire in our lives and inspires gratitude in us.
But Jesus takes the idea of blessing a step further and offers us a deeper truth—that giving is an even greater blessing than receiving. In Acts 20:35, we read where the apostle Paul remembers something Jesus said along those same lines: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
What did Jesus mean by this? Most people interpret it to mean that giving provides a feel-good experience. We feel better about ourselves when we give. And while there’s truth in that, Jesus was referring to something bigger—a way of life. He wasn’t talking about a one-time act of generosity, like donating to a cause every once in a while (even though that’s a good thing to do). He was describing a lifestyle of giving, one that reorients us from being consumers to being conduits of God’s goodness.
Think about someone you know who is consistently generous. There’s probably someone who immediately comes to mind. Whoever that is, isn’t it true that they tend to be happier, more fulfilled, and less anxious about life? Why is that? There’s a good chance it’s because their heart is focused outward, not inward.
Generosity breaks the grip of self-centeredness and opens us to the joy of serving others. It’s not just about giving money—money’s just an easy example. It’s about living in a way that brings value to others.
So, if we truly want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, at the top of our mind we need to be asking: how can I give my life away for the sake of others? How can I use what I have to impact other people for God’s kingdom? True blessing comes not from what we have, but from how we give to others. That’s the kind of life Jesus invites us into.
“Heavenly Father,
Remind me that true life is not found in what I gain but in how I give. Amen.”
