Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White’s writings emphasize the principle of selfless service and the spiritual law that we should focus on contributing to others more than we expect to receive from them. > **"in far greater measure than we expect to receive help."** (1NL 39.6) This principle suggests that our focus should be on the "deposits" we make into the lives of others. When we give bountifully, we align ourselves with the divine character of sacrifice. Additional insights from her writings include: > **"The apostle Paul said, 'Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.' 'He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.'"** (TT 180.5) > **"Jesus said of the poor widow, 'She hath given more than they all.' The rich had bestowed from their abundance, many of them merely to be seen of others and to be honored of them for their large donations. They denied themselves none of the comforts or luxuries of life in order to make their gift, and therefore it was no sacrifice and could not be compared in true value with the widow's mite."** (3SP 73.2) > **"In order to lead souls to the life-giving fountain, the preacher must first drink at the fountain himself. He must see the infinite sacrifice made by the Son of God to save fallen men, and his own soul must be imbued with the spirit of undying love."** (PaM 37.2) > **"Put your talent out to the exchangers. If you use it faithfully, you will gain another talent; and by a faithful use of these two talents, you will gain two more."** (PCP 31.5) In summary, Ellen White teaches that true value in our relationships and service comes from sacrificial giving and a bountiful spirit. By "depositing" our talents and love into others without focusing on what we will "withdraw," we follow the example of Christ's infinite sacrifice. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between self-sacrifice and personal peace? • How does the "widow's mite" principle apply to our modern use of time and resources? • What counsel did she give regarding the source of strength needed to serve others? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=giving+more+than+taking)