Given to be Given Away

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. John 6:11 KJV

The kingdom principles that Jesus taught and demonstrated in Bible times are also meant for us today. Our God is unchangeable and so is His ability to work in amazing ways. As I read this verse this morning the theme that literally jumped off the page to me was, “Give away what is given to you. Share with others what I share with you. I still multiply the things that are not hoarded for oneself.”

The disciples saw this truth displayed in a powerful way when Jesus gave them the opportunity to distribute lunch to 5,000 men. The few elements of a small boy’s lunch became a feast of great proportion with leftovers that far exceeded what they even started out with. Their wonderment of how so little could go so far was soon replaced with amazement and evident sufficiency. What could have been kept by a little boy, by Jesus, or even by the disciples was given out and multiplied miraculously.

So what insight can I take with me and apply to my own life?

*God has plans for whatever is placed in His hands.
*Multiplication is the result of giving away what He graciously gives to me.
*Others will benefit from what is passed on to them.
*Hoarding actually causes me to miss out on God’s intended purposes.
*There is no better way to live than to leave the results with God.
*Partnership with God is the doorway to any miracle.

While there are many things I am privileged to receive from my Father and then pass on to others, I have found great joy in seeing this principle work each morning as I send out an email devotional. What started out as private journal notes written on paper eventually became something I desired to share with others. A little over one hundred individuals now become the recipients of what God first shares with me in the quiet morning hours. Some have let me know they forward the devotionals on to others. That touches my heart because I then become a witness of God’s multiplication principle. Indeed it is alive and well today!

Father, Your ways never fail to amaze me. The fact that You allow me to be a distributor of Your truths leaves me in awe. I gladly join You! Amen.

Who Are We Living For?

So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:21

Jesus told of a man who had an abundance of crops. His plan? To tear down his present barns, build bigger ones, hoard the harvest for himself, and basically live the good life in retirement. What is missing? Any thought or mention of God and what He would have him do. He does not know that even as he speaks the words of his “plan”, they are spoken on what will be the last day of his life. God calls him a fool. What he thought to keep for himself will be passed on to another person.

The question running through my mind this morning is, “What am I doing with the excess things in my life?” What is being saved for myself, what is being used for others, and what is being given to God? Not just in the area of material things, but also in the area of my time, acquired knowledge, and usage of talents. If I knew that my life would come to an end in the next year, month, week, or day, how differently would I view these things and how differently would I use them? Would I be more prone to give away what I otherwise would have kept for myself?

While God does not tell me the amount of time I have left on this earth, He does tell me my life is but a vapor compared to eternity. I have a daily choice to live my life for myself or to live it for God’s design and purpose. How many people will cross my path today with whom I can invest something? What is it that I hold in my hands or in my heart that can be given to God as I am giving it to another person?

Being rich toward God has nothing to do with the amount of things we are able to do but rather with what we choose to do with what we have. I do not want to come to the end of my life here on earth and find that I lived my life with a “hoarding” mentality. May I learn how to give away what God so graciously gives to me. The list of His gifts is impressive as He lavishes on me grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, material goods, attention, and a host of other blessings. May I learn to be a distributor in God’s kingdom. What I choose to do with the things I have will keep them temporary or make them eternal.

Father, help me to see that being rich in You and being rich in this world are two different things. What I give away, I give to You. Make me a willing and joyful giver. I choose to follow Your example! Amen.