The God Who Gives and Gives and Gives
The world falsely believes that by getting things, buying things, experiencing things, pursuing pleasure...one will find happiness. But that strategy is so elusive and never pans out. God is so different (and counter-intuitive)...He finds great happiness in giving and giving and giving. He also encourages us to find happiness that way too!
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
Sermon Discussion Questions:
How do we know that it is God's nature to give?
What does it mean that the Self can be a "black hole"?
Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? How is this seen in: the Trinity, God's care of creation, redemption?
Why does this show God to be: beautiful, trustworthy, the only way to happiness?
