Sermon Recap+ Aug 31, 2025

Which Comes First? The Profound Spiritual Lesson Behind an Age-Old Question. It may sound like a silly question, but "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" actually contains profound spiritual wisdom about how God designed the order of giving and receiving in our lives.

The Chicken and Egg Paradox

This age-old question has puzzled philosophers, scientists, and children for centuries. If we look at creation literally, the answer becomes clear. Genesis 1:21-22 tells us: "God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird and every kind. And God saw it that it was good and blessed them, saying, be fruitful and multiply." Notice the order here: God created birds first, then multiplication (eggs) followed. This establishes a fundamental pattern:

First creation, then giving of life

First being, then doing

The Spiritual Question: Giving or Receiving?

This leads us to a more profound spiritual question: Which comes first in our Christian lives - giving or receiving? In Philippians 4:15-16, Paul writes: "And you Philippians yourself know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once." Paul isn't discussing abstract theology here but practical Christian living. Notice his phrasing: "the matter of giving and receiving." This order is significant.

Why Must We Receive Before We Give?

Even in the creation story, Adam and Eve were created last. Their first experience wasn't work or giving - it was receiving and enjoying what God had already provided: light, air, food, relationships, and beauty. Before they gave anything, they received.

This establishes a spiritual principle: Before we can truly give, we must first receive.

A Real-Life Example of Receiving Then Giving

Consider the example of our very own Mrs. Nancy, our church nursery director who knows every child by name, sees their needs, remembers their birthdays, and buys gifts with her own money to ensure every child feels known and loved. What enables such generosity? She gives because she has first received. She has experienced love, witnessed God's provision, and felt community support. Having received Christ's grace in her heart, she cannot help but give to others.

Can We Give Without First Receiving?

While Acts 20:35 reminds us "it is more blessed to give than to receive," and psychological research confirms that giving brings happiness and stronger relationships, there's an important subtlety here: True giving flows from receiving. You cannot pour from an empty cup. God fills us first so that we can bless others.

Philippians 4:19 reinforces this: "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to the riches in glory in Christ Jesus." As we rest in God's provision, we share in His abundance - materially, emotionally, and spiritually. Only then can we give freely, joyfully, and without expectation.

The Pattern Throughout Scripture

Paul closes his letter in Philippians 4:21-22 with: "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor's household." Again, notice the order: acknowledgment comes first, then giving. Greetings first, recognition first, then blessing and sharing. This rhythm appears throughout Scripture - we first receive and acknowledge, then give.

Life Application

This week, when thinking about giving your time, attention, or resources, ask yourself:

• Am I first thankfully acknowledging what I've received from God?

• Am I taking time to rest in God's provision before trying to give to others?

• Do I allow myself to be filled before attempting to pour out?

The good news is that when we first receive God's love, grace, and provision, giving becomes not a duty but a natural, joyful response. Like the nursery worker, like Paul, like Christ Himself, we give freely because we have first been given to abundantly.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. In what areas of my life am I trying to give without first receiving?

2. How might my giving change if I first acknowledged all I've received from God?

3. Where do I need to pause and receive God's provision before attempting to serve others?

4. Am I giving out of obligation or from the overflow of what I've received?

Remember: In creation, the chicken comes first. In our spiritual lives, receiving precedes giving. When we embrace this divine order, our generosity becomes a natural expression of gratitude rather than an exhausting obligation.