Can’t Give What We Don’t Have

Over the years, I’ve watched many people try to help others, and sometimes themselves, by drawing money from credit cards or writing a check, then hope it doesn’t get to the bank before payday.  This is money they don’t have.  And it is not the way to help or seek help.  The bible strongly encourages generosity and clearly outlines the way for giving.  2 Corinthians 8:12-15 reads, “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.  Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.  Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.  As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”  The bible tells us to use our plenty to help others, to establish some equality, so that we all will have enough. 

God blesses us to bless others, period.  And we should want to use what we have to bless them.  When we do, we please Him who made it all possible in the first place.  We can never outgive God.  2 Corinthians 9:6-8 reads, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  God wants us to help, at all times, for there will always be opportunities to do so.

To be this kind of person, we need some things in advance.  Things that will help us grow close to the Lord, and be prepared to act at the right time.

1)  We must have faith: 1 John 3:21-22 says, “Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.   And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.”  We should be bold as we represent the Lord.  And remember, God is good all the time, and … is good.

2)  We must have hope: The third verse of “My Hope is Built On Nothing Less” says “His oath, His covenant, His blood; Supports me in the ‘whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way; He then is all my hope and stay.”  Let’s draw closer to Him.  We must trust in the Lord, until we die. 

3)  We must have love: God is Love and He wants us to be like Him. 1 John 3:18 reads, “let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  We grow in love because Love is the answer.

4)  We must have compassion: Verse 17 states, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”  We must always be willing to help legitimate needs.

5)  We must have joy: Philippians 4:4-5 reads, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”  We shout praises to our God for His love and blessings, for the good work He has us do, and for all that He is.

Two biblical stories came to mind as I was writing this.  Though we may not see all these things in action, we can imagine they are present.  These widows trust in the Men of God and obey God Himself.  In both cases, they did as they were told.  And we too, should practice this kind of obedience.

1 Kings 17:9-16 reads, “Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”  So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”  But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”  But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.  For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”  So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.  There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.”

2 Kings 4:1-7 says, “One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”  “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”  “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.  And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.  Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”  So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.   Soon every container was full to the brim!  “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.  “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.  When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

Jesus said He didn’t come to be served but to serve.  And we are all called to serve the Lord by serving others.  The task is never complete.  Service never ceases.  Matthew 16:25 reads, “For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again.” 

Imagine the faith it took, the hope of tomorrow, the love of God and people, the compassion for brethren, and the amazing joy expressed by these widows, who thought they saw the end, but found life through service and obedience.  More life with God and their sons, enough to live off and pay bills, always enough. 

People let’s truly give our life to Christ.  Just like everything else, it’s not ours anyway.  We must choose to serve, as we chose to be in Christ.  We must choose to allow the power of Christ to live through us, in service.  We can’t give what we don’t have.  But we can give ourselves away, in service to God and people, and find life.