They First Gave Themselves to the LORD

John Farley
Pastor Teacher
Sunday,
August 25, 2024

They first gave themselves to the LORD

The NOT I
BUT CHRIST life leads to the NOT I BUT OTHERS life.

This is also the NOT I
BUT ONE ANOTHER life.

Living for Christ leads to living for others.

No longer for ourselves, but
for Him. That’s first.

But then, no longer
for ourselves but
for OTHERS.

Love means sacrificing for the benefit of the one loved.

JOH 15:12-14

When we do what Jesus commands us to do, we are living as a friend to Him.

1JO 3:16-18

The NOT I BUT OTHERS life has several key proving grounds.

Congregation life
Family life
(daily living with those closest to us)

How we use the resources the LORD has given us -

- particularly
financial resources.

The most extensive teaching on Christian giving is found in
2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

2CO 8:1-15

Here we have the life of love: giving sacrificially so others may have a better life.

The intimate connection between abundant joy and deep poverty.

From their affliction came an overflowing wealth of care and assistance for others.