Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSýnishorn

Read Luke 3:7–14

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptised. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

The Gift of Giving

A church leader brought the phrase, “He’d give you the shirt off his back”, to life when he gave this unsettling challenge to his church: “What would happen if we took the coats off our backs and gave them to the needy?” Then he took off his own coat and laid it at the front of the church. Many others followed his example. This was during winter, so the trip home was pretty cold that day! But it meant lots of people in need found the days a little bit warmer.

John the Baptist had a harsh warning for the crowds who came to him in the Judean wilderness. “You brood of vipers!” he said. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:7–8). Surprised, they asked him, “What should we do then?” He gave them this advice: “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (vv. 10–11). When we turn from our sin to follow God, He will give us generous hearts to give.

Because “God loves a cheerful giver”, giving should never be done out of guilt or forced (2 Corinthians 9:7). When we give freely and generously, we can take joy from knowing that someone has received something he or she really needed. It can feel so much better than receiving a gift. —TG

When we give, we receive happiness.

And… Action!

Think of something you can give someone in need today. Some ideas: Do a household chore for your parents or siblings, give one of your belongings to someone who needs it, or talk to someone who is lonely.

More Stuff for Ya

“I don’t care about starving kids in Africa.”

Serving? Nah, not for me 

God will provide . . . for the giver too