Topic: Giving Grows Your Faith [RICK WARREN Devotional 1 July   2022]

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Giving Grows Your Faith

BY RICK WARREN — JULY 1, 2022
FROM THE HABITS OF HAPPINESS

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Philippians 2:4-5 (NLT)

Every time you show generosity out of a loving heart, you strengthen your faith and become more like Jesus.

That’s because every time you’re generous, a change takes place in you. Every time you give, your heart moves another notch up the dial toward God. You become more loving. You become more like Jesus.

Philippians 1:11 says, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (NLT).

God wants you to learn that you can give without loving—but you cannot love without giving.

You say, “I really love my kids!” But do you give them your time? You say, “I really love my wife.” But do you give her your attention?

This is what love is all about. You become more loving—and, therefore, more like Jesus—when you become more generous.

What we’re talking about here is extremely countercultural. Society does not tell you to give; our culture constantly tells you to get. It’s an “all about me” world—me, my stuff, my needs—me, me, me.

But when you’re generous, it takes the focus off you so you can think about others. Philippians 2:4-5 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (NLT).

Showing generosity also strengthens your faith. When you use your resources to help others, instead of using them on yourself, you have to depend on God to help you.

When you choose to help a friend who’s having a tough time paying his bills, you have to learn to trust God to provide for you. When you use your time to help your neighbor, you have to trust God to make it work so you can get your stuff done too.

Your faith is strengthened when you depend on God in those situations and trust him.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).

Once, during a time of special giving at Saddleback Church, before I had written any books, God led Kay and me to give away our salary over a three-year period. For those three years, we had to trust God to somehow provide income. And he did.

Each time God tested us, and we remained faithful, our faith became stronger as we saw God provided faithfully. God will do the same for you when you give generously.

Also Read: Open Heaven 1 July  2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Topic: SLEEPING IN TRAINING? 

Talk It Over

• What have you learned about God as you have become more generous?
• When have you had to trust God to provide for you as a result of your generosity?
• How has another person’s generosity drawn you closer to Jesus?

Have you trusted Jesus with your life?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to confess your sins and to trust Jesus with your life, start with this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in Jesus, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I submit to Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Jesus, I want to follow you and serve you. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

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