The phrase “freely you have received, freely give” means so much more than we are willing to live out before Him. Everything we possess–salvation, grace, spiritual gifts, blessings, talents, daily provisions–arrives to use without any cost. Yet, a great cost was paid by God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Knowing this Truth should transform the way we live––giving gifts and ourselves, our talents, our daily provisions––generously to others without expecting anything in return.
The Principle
The principle encourages us to share ALL we have been given with ALL selflessly, as it came to us through Christ.
Key Concepts
- Unconditional Gifts. The gifts of God, whether they are material or spiritual, are given freely without any cost from us. This means ‘they are not earned or deserved,’ but are acts of grace.
- Generosity. Just as we have received these gifts without charge, we are called to give to others without expecting anything in return. This fosters a spirit of generosity in our relationships.
- Gratitude. Recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God leads to a thankful heart. This gratitude motivates us to share our blessings with others.
What We Have Received Freely
Salvation and Forgiveness: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith . . . it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit’s presence and power as a gift of God through Christ (Acts. 2:38).
Spiritual Gifts: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Jas. 1:17). “Each of you should use whatever give you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”(1 Pe. 4:10).
Love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jhn. 13:34).
Each Gift Is Given for the Body, Not Gain “For by the grace given me, I say to each one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself in sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If you gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then given encouragement; if it is giving, then given generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Rom. 12: 3-8).
. . . because each of these gifts (and, more) came without a price tag attached, none can be hoarded or marketed or used to gain recognition of any kind. They MUST be stewarded freely in the manner they were given. By embodying this principle, we not only honor the gifts we have received, but also contribute the gifts of God through Christ abundantly to the lives of those around us.
How We Are Called to Give Freely
Generosity with Resources:
- “It is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35).
- Provide practical help to those in need (1 Jn. 3:17).
Generosity with Time and Service:
- Visit the sick, encourage the weary, disciple younger believers.
- Use talents in the local church WITHOUT demanding recognition or payment.
Generosity with Forgiveness:
- “Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col. 3:13).
Generosity with the Gospel:
- Share Christ’s message openly, not as a commodity, but as living water offered freely (Rev. 22:17).
A Lifestyle of Grace and Generosity
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luk. 6:38).
Living the command of Matt. 10:8 creates a cycle––God pours in, we pour out, and He supplies again (2 Co. 9:8-11).
Freely receiving positions us to freely give, displaying the character of our generous Savior to a watching world.
Warnings Against Exploitation
“Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us” (Mac. 3:11).
“Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace” (Jer. 6:13-14).
“And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” (Eze. 13:19).
“Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory” (Isa. 56:11).
“And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’” (Mat. 21:13).
“By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Pe. 2:3).
“. . . useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (1 Ti. 6:5).
KEY POINT: Exploitation is condemned; support must be motivated by service, not greed. As such, support for ministry service is biblical, but it is NEVER to be payment for the gospel or the gifts and talents provided by God Himself (see Acts 3:6).
True Shepherds v. False Shepherds
True Shepherds. Serve willingly, not for shameful gain (1 Pe. 5:2; 2 Co. 5:14). Feed the flock God’s Word (Acts 20:28; Jhn. 21:17). Protect the sheep even at personal cost; teach Truth faithfully, even when unpopular (2 Ti. 4:2-5); model humility in leadership (Mat. 23:11).
False Shepherds. Serve for dishonest gain, motivated by green, power, or recognition (Tit. 1:11; Mic. 3:11; Isa. 56:11). Feed themselves rather than the flock (Eze. 34:2-3). Abandon the sheep when danger arises (Jhn. 10:12-13). Prophesy lies for profit (Jer. 23:16-17). Love titles, honor, and outward appearances while their hearts are far from God (Mat. 23:507).
KEY POINT: True shepherds reflect Christ’s sacrificial heart; false shepherds exploit God’s flock.
Guarding Our Hearts
Hypocrisy arises when outward devotion masks a heart that is far from God. (Isa. 29:13; Mat. 15:8). True ministry flows from love and surrender, not performance, recognition, or obligation.
Conclusion: The Heart of Christ
Jesus is the true Shepherd who came to serve, not be served (Mar. 10:45; Jhn. 10:11) The Church flourishes when leaders and members reflect His heart: generous, sacrificial, sincere, and free from greed. Let us honor God with both lips and hearts, freely giving what we have freely received.