If you are anything like me, then you LOVE to give gifts. Giving to people brings me the utmost joy. Before the race, I loved to surprise my coworkers with coffee, pay for someone’s meal, or just give friends “I saw this and thought of you” gifts. I believe when you receive small gifts, for no reason, you feel thought of and cared for.
But being on the race, I am now limited to a tight budget, and there’s never a Starbucks around the corner. I have found myself often wishing I had more money, or more ways to bless people. I have fallen short on giving, even in the things I do have available.
I was reading in Mark 14, where it tells of a woman who pours a bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus head. Jesus and his disciple were reclining at Simon the Lepers house, when an uninvited woman came to Jesus. She broke a jar of perfume and poured it on Jesus, to show him her adoration for Him, even though He had done nothing for her.
She was giving out of the goodness in her heart, not to get anything back, or to repay for anything. She loved Jesus, so she gave him WHAT SHE HAD.
Jesus has given us what we have because he trusts us to be good stewards of it. What a bummer it would be, to use what we have for ourselves, and not only rob others, but ourselves of the joy that comes from giving.
Maybe The Lord has given you excess money? How are you spending, or saving it? For yourself? Or are you trusting in Him, and giving where you feel you can? To the poor, to a friend, to your family, or to the church? What if you just took a little of what He has BLESSED you with, to help someone else feel loved and cared for? Imagine the stories, and the joy that could come from you just giving what you can!
Maybe He has entrusted you with time? Are you willing to give your time to others? To sit with friends, and let them tell you what they are currently struggling with. Or doing acts of service for others in your free time. It may seem like no big deal to you to give up and hour or two of your time, but it will be a GODSENT to the person receiving it.
Maybe He has given you the gift of wisdom? SHARE IT! What good is it if you keep it for yourself? Give wisdom and advice to the people in your life needing it. Write a blog. Leave someone a note. Have an intentional conversation. Do what you can with what you have.
God has given all of us gifts, now it’s up to us to use them. Use what God has trusted you with, to help others.
And I get it, sometimes we are in a point where we just feel like we are lacking everything.
In Cambodia, we worked with an organization that was fighting against sex trafficking. They would find children that were at risk, and house them. After a month of living with these precious girls it was time for us to say goodbye. There was one girl who I bonded with so much, and leaving her was extremely hard. On our last night, we all ate dinner together, prayed for one another then had to leave. There was so much I wanted to tell this sweet girl, but her English was very poor, and she just wouldn’t have understood it. There were so many things I wanted to give her, but lacked the funds or ability to give them to her. So instead, I cried with her, gave her many hugs and kisses, told her I loved her, and gave her the sweaty headband I was wearing.
It was something so small, but it was WHAT I HAD. And it meant the world to her.
We all ALWAYS have something to give. Sometimes small things, and sometimes big, both are just as important. It’s just up to us to seek out the opportunities and be willing to have open hands towards others.
Acts of service. Money. Encouragement. New perspectives. Wisdom. Compassion. Listening ears. Availability. LOVE. Whatever it may be.
When you give, you inspire others to give. Be someone that does not cling to the things of this world, but gives freely, because of the overflow you have received from our good father. What a breath of fresh air you could be to so many people.
Now, go out into this big world, and bless many with all the wonderful things that are YOU! I promise, you won’t regret it.
