#1459. Do something useful so as to be generous (24/2/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

From Ephesians 4:28, we see that we are to become useful and generous, according to our capacities and stage of life.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

1. Do something useful

in our last devotional, we saw how things as simple as speaking the truth and dealing with broken relationships, is spiritual warfare; today, we see that spiritual warfare involves everyday things like working and being productive. 

Adam and Eve were commissioned to tend the garden. God has given us useful things to do. Work is a part of what it means to be human. 

Paul puts this principle of working very strongly when writes: 

Proverbs puts this subject in very stark terms: ‘

2. Share with those in need

Rather than stealing or needlessly depending on the work of others, we are to become generous. God wants us to become those, through whom, He expresses His loving generosity. 

We can do this through being generous with our money, time, skills, advice… Just as working is a part of God’s design for us, so generosity is a part of our becoming more like God. 

Response

We are to become useful and generous, according to our capacities and stage of life.

We all have different capacities. We are at different stages of life. However, are each of us ‘doing something useful with our own hands’? Are we then being generous in the ways that we can? 

Let’s end with these words of example and promise:

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a healthy balance between discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday we continued our series:

Ephesians: To the Praise, for the Purpose, in the Power of God

From Ephesians 4:25–32, the message was:

‘Let’s put on the things of the Holy Spirit rather than the devil so as to enjoy healthy relationships.’

Please read Ephesians 4:25–32 together before discussing.

1. Personal Reflection

• From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Holy Spirit particularly impressed on your heart? Is there an area where you sense God calling you to change?

2. v.25 – Put on Truth, Not Falsehood

• Why do you think truthfulness comes first in this list?

• How does dishonesty damage relationships and church unity?

• In what subtle ways might we struggle with truthfulness (exaggeration, concealment, image management)?

3. v.26–27 – Put on Peace-Making, Not Bitterness

• Paul says unresolved anger can ‘give the devil a foothold.’ Why?

• What does it look like to deal with anger in a healthy, godly way?

4. v.28 – Put on Usefulness and Generosity

• What does this verse teach about work, productivity, and purpose?

• How does usefulness connect to generosity?

• Are we being wasteful with our time, energy, or gifts - or intentional and fruitful?

• How might God be prompting us to grow in generosity?

5. v.29–32 – Put on Speech that Builds

• Where do we most struggle in the area of speech? (tone, criticism, gossip, harshness, social media, etc.)

• Why is speech so powerful in shaping the health of a church?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• Being a light -  How does ‘putting off’ sinful patterns and ‘putting on’ Spirit-led character make the gospel attractive? In what ways does relational health strengthen our witness?

• Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation? What is one small step you could take this week?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• General prayer: From our study, or from personal needs, how do people want prayer?

For Church Finances

Our passage speaks of usefulness and generosity. Please pray for our church finances. Despite growth in numbers, financial giving has not increased proportionally.

Please pray:

• For cheerful and faith-filled generosity.

• For wisdom and stewardship as a church.

• Personally consider whether God may be calling you to begin giving or to increase your giving.