It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive
True love is unselfish and finds joy in glorifying God and blessing others, and giving to others doubles our blessings.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the distinction between earthly and heavenly love, noting that earthly love is often self-centered while heavenly love is unselfish and seeks to glorify God and bless others. He challenges listeners to reflect on their giving versus taking, urging them to center their lives around the Lord and His work rather than their own desires. Simpson highlights the profound truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive, encouraging believers to share their treasures and joys with others. He reminds us that true fulfillment comes from selflessness and serving others in love.
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How shall we know the difference between earthly and heavenly love? The one centers on ourselves and is partly our ego seeking its own gratification. The other reaches out to God and to people and finds its Joy in glorifying Him and blessing them. Love is unselfishness, and the love that is not unselfish is not divine. How much do we give to others, and how much do we take for ourselves? What is the center of our being-ourselves, or our Lord and His people and work? May the Lord help us to know more fully the meaning of that great truth, It is more blessed to give than to receive. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it (Mark 8:35). Have you found some precious treasure?
Pass it on.
Have you found some holy pleasure? Pass it on. Giving out is twice possessing, Love will double every blessing, On to higher service pressing, Pass it on.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Heavenly Love
- The Importance of Unselfishness
- The Blessing of Giving
- Giving out is twice possessing
- Love will double every blessing
Key Quotes
“Love will double every blessing” — A.B. Simpson
“Giving out is twice possessing” — A.B. Simpson
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We should strive to make giving to others a priority in our lives.
- We should seek to cultivate unselfish love in our relationships with others.
- By giving to others, we can experience the joy and blessing that comes from loving and serving others.