From the Inside Out
A Grace Filled Life
Grace to give and receive (1|2)
Pages 231-237
Genesis 14:11-24 (NIV) Abram Rescues Lot The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre, the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night, Abram divided his men to attack them, and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NIV) Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Why do you think financial giving is such a strong indicator of grace at work in a believer’s life? How can we cultivate hearts that give joyfully and intentionally out of love for God’s glory rather than duty or pressure?
How does Jesus’ teaching to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” challenge the cultural obsession with success, wealth, and comfort?
How does the phrase “Your kingdom come” challenge the self-centered mindset promoted by prosperity theology?
Why do you think the prosperity mindset has become so appealing in modern Christianity?
How does viewing giving as worship rather than a means of personal gain reshape our understanding of generosity? What does 2 Corinthians 9:6 teach us about the heart behind true, grace-filled giving?