Thursday: Come to Church Ready to Give

By SeeMyChurch Editorial · Wednesday, 14 October 2026 · 4 min read

When we enter a new community, it is natural to wonder whether we will find friendship, encouragement and support. These are good gifts. But a community becomes fragile when everyone asks only what it can provide and nobody notices what they can contribute.

In Christian Faith Is Better, Pastor Dolapo Lawal challenges a purely transactional approach to church. This original reflection explores the difference between receiving care and treating people mainly as opportunities. Christian community has room for both need and generosity.

See people before possibilities

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12–27. Paul describes a body whose members belong to one another. The image gives dignity to people whose contributions are less visible. It also challenges the idea that some members matter only because of their influence, wealth or usefulness.

Imagine a conversation after a service. We may quickly notice who owns a business, who has a position we admire or who might help our plans. There is nothing wrong with making professional connections honestly. The problem begins when interest in a person disappears as soon as there is nothing to gain.

A different approach begins with attention. Ask how someone is doing and allow enough time to hear the answer. Learn a name. Remember a concern. These small acts communicate that a person is valuable before any opportunity they might offer.

Receiving help is not a failure

A call to contribute must never become a demand that struggling people hide their needs. Some seasons require us to receive more than we can give. Illness, bereavement, unemployment and caregiving can reduce capacity. A healthy church makes room for this without treating people as burdens.

Generosity is also wider than money. Someone with limited income may offer patience, prayer or useful experience. Someone with little free time may send one thoughtful message. The question is not whether our contribution looks impressive. It is whether we can offer something sincerely and responsibly.

Likewise, serving does not mean saying yes to every request. Overcommitment can damage health and family responsibilities. A sustainable contribution is more helpful than a large promise that creates resentment or cannot be kept. Honest limits allow others to plan realistically.

Choose a contribution you can sustain

Today, identify one need you actually understand. Resist the temptation to begin with a grand project. You might help someone navigate a form, check on a member who has been absent or offer assistance with a practical task the church has already identified.

Ask before taking over. A person may need a different kind of support from the one you imagined. Listening protects dignity and makes your help more useful. If the need involves money or sensitive information, follow appropriate safeguards and avoid making promises on behalf of other people.

Then decide what you can offer and when. Write a clear commitment. For instance, you could set aside thirty minutes on Saturday to help with an agreed task. Keeping that small promise builds trust more effectively than announcing a large intention that remains vague.

It is also worth examining how you respond when your contribution receives no recognition. Wanting appreciation is human. But service becomes steadier when it is rooted in love rather than a need to be seen. Quiet faithfulness gives a community strength that is easy to overlook.

As you pray tonight, name two people in your church whose work often goes unnoticed. Thank God for them. If appropriate, offer a specific word of appreciation. Noticing the service of others helps us become less absorbed in our own importance.

Reflect: What can I offer this week that respects both another person’s needs and my real capacity?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to receive care gratefully and give care freely. Help me value people beyond what they can do for me and keep the commitments I make. Amen.