We all know people who are very generous – with their time, talents, and treasure. We often credit them for having a “generous heart.” But put this quote in your pipe and smoke it.
Giving does not begin with a generous heart, but with a generous God.
We love God because he first loved us. And we give because we have first received. And so the cycle begins. Jesus promised that those who have been blessed (all of us) will be blessed even more (Matthew 13:12). And when we give, we will receive even more (Luke 6:38).
In other words, it is in giving that we receive. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Giving is true having.”
Application: If you want to progress in your recovery, help someone else progress in theirs.
Recovery Step: Quit waiting for something to happen and start doing something yourself.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
