Ready to Give – September 21, 2022

Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on that which is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:18,19

Ready to Give

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, we are looking at the blessing money can be. Our verse tells us to be “ready to give” and “willing to share.” God’s Word for today isn’t about how you “must give” and “have to share” in order to make the world better or to get to heaven. Instead, it talks about being ready and willing to give or share.

Do you feel ready to give? How willing are you to give away your things and share your money? A lot of us want to keep all of our toys and our nice house and any vacations or sport camps we want to do. We do not feel very willing to share much of the time.

Here is the good news: you have no pressure to give or share in order to fix all of the sad things. It’s not on you to make the world a better place. We could choose to never give a penny or help anyone with our money. Why? Because we don’t have to fix the world, Jesus already did! Jesus was the most “ready to give.” He gave all of his money, his time, and even his life—for you, your family, your friends, and the world. Money was not important to Jesus because YOU were important to Jesus!

So, if we don’t have to give our money to make the world better or to get to heaven, then why would we be ready to give? It’s in the last words of our verse: That you “may hold on that which is truly life.” It means this: Your life is more than stuff and experiences! TRUE life is with Jesus and joining him in his work on earth by loving others until we are with him forever. Until then:

• We can be “ready to give” our toys to those who have no toys.
• We could be “ready to give” meals to families with no daddy to help them.
• We can be “willing to share” dinner with an unchurched kid from our class.

These are not small things! These are “truly living” a life in Jesus. We can join Jesus in being “willing to share” anything and everything!

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank you for your readiness to give everything for us. Forgive us for our selfish ways. Renew our hearts so that we may bless others with our money and live a TRUE life with you. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What was Jesus “ready to give” for you?
• How do you hope to use your money for others someday?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why don’t you need to fix the world with your money?
• How can you use your money in a way that is “ready to give?”

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree or Disagree: You can fix the world.
• How does Jesus’ salvation of the world change the way you think about money?