Furious Chapter 32 Devotional

The Joy of Giving

I was preaching in a remote village in India—one of the poorest places I’ve ever seen. Most of the people were Hindu, but a small church had taken root there, made up almost entirely of first-generation Christians. Many had been disowned by their families. Some had lost their jobs. Most were surviving by subsistence farming, scraping together enough to live, day by day.

The church itself was a simple hut with open walls, just a roof to keep out the sun. The congregation sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the ground. As the service began, the humble Indian pastor stood to receive the offering. I was stunned. These people had almost nothing. And yet—they were about to give.

What happened next left an imprint on my soul.

One by one, the people came forward, each carrying a small, shallow basket woven from wicker (they resembled round, flat pans). In each one was a handful of rice or grain—sometimes even less than a handful. These were not symbolic gestures. These were offerings from their own food supply. Food they had grown with their own hands. Food they might very well need tomorrow.

But they didn’t bring it with reluctance. They came smiling, rejoicing, singing, praising God. And they gave joyfully.

It was the most generous offering I’ve ever witnessed.

After the service, that offering was used to make a humble meal for the pastor’s family—and for me. As we ate, I commented on how deeply I had been moved. “It amazes me,” I said, “that they can afford to give, knowing how desperate some of their situations are.”

The pastor smiled. “To them,” he said, “they can’t afford not to. This is how we worship.” That moment gave new meaning to Paul’s words: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” This wasn’t a collection to keep the lights on. There were no lights. It wasn’t about perks or prestige. This was love—responding to love. Gratitude for the bread of God’s Word, expressed through tangible generosity to the one who broke it for them.

Paul makes this connection in multiple places. In 1 Timothy 5:17 he says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” In 1 Corinthians 9, he argues that those who sow spiritual seed have a right to reap material support.

In Philippians 4, Paul commends the believers for partnering with him financially—and then says something remarkable: “You are partakers of my grace.” Their support didn’t just help Paul—it linked them to his mission and to the supernatural grace that marked his life.

When we give to those who feed us spiritually, we aren’t just paying bills. We’re joining hands. We’re becoming partners in the work. We’re honoring Christ by honoring the gifts He’s placed among us—pastors, teachers, missionaries, evangelists—those who carry and deliver the Word.

So give where you’re fed. Give with joy. Give not because you have to, but because you get to. When grace is alive in us, it opens our hands. And generous people are one of the clearest signs of a Gospel-formed heart.

🔥 Reflection

Who has poured into your life spiritually? A pastor? A teacher? A mentor? How can you honor them—not just with words, but with action? Is your giving marked by joy or by duty? What would it look like to give like the believers in that small village?

🙏 Prayer

Lord, thank You for the people who have taught me Your Word. Thank You for the bread of life that has come to me through faithful servants. Teach me to be generous—not just with money, but with honor and gratitude. Help me to give where I’m fed, and to see my giving as worship. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take time this week to support someone who has taught you the Word. It might be a financial gift. It might be a note of encouragement. But do something tangible to honor them. And if you haven’t been giving regularly where you’re being spiritually fed, ask the Holy Spirit to help you take that step. Joyful generosity is a sign that grace is at work in your life. Let it show.