Give All You Have

"...But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 

And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard-pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: 

'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.'" 

-Paul, 2nd Corinthians 8:7-15

"When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not known what it was. 

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. 

Then Moses said to them, 'No one is to keep any of it until morning.' 

However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them." 

-Exodus 16:14-23

I was reading through these scriptures about two weeks ago, and I had one of those moments where God just seems to drop truth into my mind and heart. Let me attempt to explain it all a bit: 

I've been in the middle of abundance. I've realized, even more, the reality of all the fullness that God's given me through Jesus. He's so good! He's given me His inheritance and made me His daughter! His Spirit lives in me! That's crazy! 

I've also begun to realize that abundance tests my heart. It challenges me to give all that I've been given. To speak the words of love that God's whispered to my heart and to speak the truth that He's used to set me free. I have to give it away. Not only do I have to give it all away, but I want to. I want to end each day seeking His provision for the next. And here's the good news: I know He'll be faithful. 

Just like Israel's manna, if I keep Him to myself, I get stale. My relationship with Him is supposed to be a source of life to me, but also to the people around me. If I cling tight to the spiritual bread He gave me yesterday, I not only miss today's fresh spiritual bread, but I also miss the goodness of gathering it. I miss out on Him if my soul's eating something stale instead of meeting with Him to get the fresh stuff.  

So, a couple of summation bullet points/mini-sermons to myself: 

• Don't be afraid to give yourself away, to trust Him to be your life. 
• Don't be a hoarder. Don't save some back for emergencies. 
• Live in His presence (and out of its fullness). 
• He gives fresh spiritual bread for my soul to eat---everyday! 
• He's trustworthy. He's not lying to us. 

Dear Reader, we've all been given an abundance in Christ Jesus. You have something precious. You're meant to give it away. I think, as you do this, you'll find what I've found, there's always more than enough. 

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow'--when you have it with you." 

-Proverbs 3:27-28

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." 

-Philippians 4:19