Receiving I. Introduction A. Acts 20:35 1. In this verse Paul establishes the need for Christians to give 2. In so doing, however, Paul also establishes the need for receiving 3. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" 4. It is important to note that one can receive and be blessed, since Paul speaks in the comparative 5. He does not say, "it is blessed to give, and not to receive" or some such thing B. It is difficult for many to recognize that they may need to receive benefits 1. America was founded, and still runs, under the "Protestant work ethic" 2. It has many benefits, but it also engenders the feeling that one must help oneself and not receive assistance when necessary 3. Take the "Protestant work ethic" and mix in a bit of pride, and many times it is very difficult for some to see their position and that they may need to receive assistance C. Let us spend time examining what the Scriptures say about receiving II. Receiving: What We Receive From God A. It is apparent quickly from the Scriptures that we have received much and will continue to receive from God B. Physical Benefits Received 1. the world and all it contains (Genesis 1-2) 2. the ability to live (Genesis 2) 3. Life without concern for necessities (Matthew 6:25-34) C. Spiritual Benefits Received 1. Jesus Christ (John 3:16) 2. The word of life (James 1:21) 3. the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:15) 4. Forgiveness of sin, when asked for (1 John 1:9) 5. mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16) D. Benefits we will receive 1. wisdom, if we ask for it (James 1:5-7) 2. an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15, 10:36) E. We can see, then, that we certainly have received many wonderful things from God 1. we are in a great debt to Him, one that we could not repay (Matthew 18:22-35) 2. we know that we are to give because He has given us so much, and yet even in our current state we still receive blessings from God! F. Regardless of how we may feel about our current position in life, we are the recipients of blessings from God G. Does the New Testament show that people receive only from God, or also from other people? III. Receiving: What is Received From Others A. The New Testament is full of examples of people receiving things from others B. The people of Israel received food and healing from Jesus C. Acts 2-5: everyone in the newly established church received benefits from the giving of many D. 2 Corinthians 7-8: for the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia to give, the brethren in Judea needed to receive E. Philippians 4:15-17: Paul received a gift from the Philippians F. Many commands necessitate a receiving party 1. Galatians 6:10: to help anyone, they must be willing to receive the help! 2. Hebrews 10:25: encouraging one another requires people to receive encouragement 3. 1 Peter 4:9: being hospitable to one another requires others to receive hospitality G. We can establish many more examples, but the point ought to be manifest: whenever someone is to give, another must receive IV. Receiving: Concern Over Covetousness A. It must be noted, nevertheless, that Christians are to receive benefits with the right spirit B. Christians must not receive for the sake of covetousness 1. Ephesians 5:1-5: covetousness-- greed-- decried as equivalent to idolatry 2. James 4:3: if we ask (of God) for things with the wrong spirit, we will not receive! C. Our goal is not to receive for the sake of accumulating property/money/goods D. It is good to explore, however, why we ought to receive V. Receiving: Why We Should Receive A. To satisfy a need 1. all of us have needs 2. some of them are financial-- not enough money for food or bills 3. some of them are physical-- health problems, or needing assistance with projects 4. some are emotional-- needing to talk to someone, counseling 5. and some are spiritual-- help with studying, prayer, etc. 6. we can look toward brethren to help us with any of these needs 7. Romans 12:6-8: different people have different talents, and everyone can benefit from receiving the fruit of the talents of others B. To give opportunity for others to give 1. Many times we can receive because others want to give 2. after all, as it was said above-- if no one received anything, no one would be able to give! 3. Do we need to have dinner at some brother's house, or do we need to receive a gift from a brother? Not necessarily...but we give the brother an opportunity to give C. Let us now look at the cycle of giving and receiving VI. The Giving and Receiving Cycle A. We can look at our giving and receiving in terms of a cycle B. The Self-Sacrificing Principle 1. to understand the cycle, it is helpful to look at agape 2. agape: self-sacrificing love 3. One exhibits agape when he or she gives no thought to his or her own needs but fully to the needs of others 4. Now, if a community exists wherein every individual member has ideal agape love, everyone's needs are perfectly met, since everyone is concerned about everyone else over themselves 5. The same principle works in marriage: if both spouses have agape love for one another, both of their needs will be met, since each will have no concern for themselves but only concern for the other C. The Self-Sacrificing Principle allows the giving and receiving cycle to run D. We can all have an attitude of giving-- as seen in Acts 20:35-- and yet we all will receive also E. You give to others, and they also give to you...or, others receive from you, and you receive from others 1. this is the basis for commands like Hebrews 10:25-- mutual encouragement 2. You encourage and receive encouragement at the same time F. As we have seen in Romans 12, everyone has different abilities...and therefore will give different gifts 1. While there are many things that we all can give one another-- financial assistance, encouragement, etc.-- each of us brings unique benefits to the whole 2. One person may be able to give medical advice, and that one will receive historical knowledge from another 3. Or, perhaps, one person knows how to fix a boat while another knows how to roof, and they can help one another 4. Countless examples can be provided for this principle G. Is it possible that in this sequence, some will give more than others, and some receive more than others? Very possibly. 1. Not necessarily a difficulty, as long as everyone does give and receive 2. in this way, the community supports itself-- physically, emotionally, spiritually H. Since giving and receiving is such a natural part of Christianity, why the need to preach on it? VII. Receiving: Hindrances to Receiving A. Despite the clear necessity for all of us to receive benefits from one another, there are many times when people refuse to accept such benefits! B. Pride 1. Pride is a significant hindrance in receiving assistance from others 2. If we receive assistance, we may feel in an inferior position 3. Receiving assistance can feel humiliating 4. It may also foster a feeling of dependency, and fiercely independent people resist that C. Pride, however, is the stumbling-block 1. Humility is the way of the Kingdom (Matthew 18:1-4) 2. We all are already in a dependent state upon God 3. We cannot be fiercely independent Christians, for it is necessary for us to work together and be together and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25) 4. We have to dispel the perception that receiving assistance from others makes us inferior to them, but a recognition that everyone provides different benefits to the whole D. Socio-economic issues 1. Many times, people feel that receiving assistance, especially financial assistance, is "below" their socio-economic status 2. This feeling is somewhat based on pride, as seen above 3. In Christ, all are equal (Galatians 3:28) 4. Again, we would need to "transform our minds" (Romans 12:2), and consider the receiving of benefits as being part of the giving and receiving cycle, and look for opportunities to give to others E. Let us be willing to receive from others all kinds of benefits! VIII. Conclusion A. We have examined the need to receive B. "It is more blessed to give than to receive..." C. ...but without one receiving, one cannot give! D. We receive, not in a spirit of covetousness, but as part of the giving and receiving cycle E. We all provide different benefits to one another so that all may receive comfort and encouragement F. Songbook G. Of all the benefits we as humans can receive, none is more precious or necessary than salvation through Christ Jesus H. If you have received those benefits, we would encourage you to consider obeying Christ today I. Perhaps you are striving to obey Christ, but have difficulties receiving benefits from others, or have another issue that troubles you-- we would love to help encourage you today J. Or perhaps you simply require encouragement-- let us know! K. Come to the front as we stand and sing