| Acts 20:33-38 "I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Paul said that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" because that's what he lives by. Not only does he provide for his partners spiritually, he also provides for their livelihood. He's a truly self-less person who continuous supported brothers and sisters at church, and he weaved tents himself to provide for the needs of his coworkers. He has set a truly remarkable example! Paul clearly knew that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," which was also the example that Jesus Christ set for us. He became poor on the cross on our behalf, so that we may become rich because of his poverty. Paul profoundly experienced the grace of Christ, so in his life he also wanted to spread such grace around. While we know the truth of "it is more blessed to give than to receive," we actually don't act on it much. Chinese families in North America often only consider their own needs; meeting the needs of their children is actually done for their own sake too. How will we step out from our circle of life and identify with the society that we live in? Identifying with the society doesn't mean consenting with all that it does; rather, it is to recognize that we belong to this society and we have the responsibility to improve it. Chinese people often cannot identify with the American society, feeling that this is not our land. Actually, as long as we are living here, God has given us the responsibility to intercede for this land. Not only should we pray for the rulers of the land, but we also need to enter into the society so that people would know about the love of Jesus. May God help us to be willing to become poor after receiving all the riches so that others might become rich because of us.
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu  Lord, please give us the spirit of generosity. We trust that you are faithful, so the more we give the more we will receive from you. May you grant everyone the blessing and grace of "it is more blessed to give than to receive." I thank you and I pray for the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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