Give!

Give!

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Matthew 6:3 NIV

Now we come to the practical aspect of our faith, the outer proof of an inner conviction. If I claim to have accepted the gift of God, which is Jesus Christ and all He offers, I must also know that there is nothing I can give that will be better or greater than the gift already given. God gave Himself: the highest and noblest gift anyone could give. Having received this great gift, the best I can do is to find ways to give my own best to other people. I can't repeat the gift I have been given, but I can replicate the spirit behind the gift. I must give with the same heart and mind that God gave. 

When I do this, God is made known to the whole world, and the world can be attracted to the God I have come to know and believe. The needy are an integral part of our society. At all times, we have all had areas of need that God raised people to fulfil. Our greatest need was salvation, and Jesus fully satisfied that need. Now that this deep need is settled, there are areas of life that we have now been gifted to satisfy. We may not have all of the world's goods, but with Jesus, we have the basic foundation to be of help to others. It can be a kind word, or a shoulder to lean on, or even a hot meal to share, or a cold drink of water. 

The value of what is given is not the issue here, but the heart with which the need is met. The needy will always be here with us, and I could even be one of them. If I were to be treated the way I have treated others, would I like myself right now? The word 'WHEN' shows that helping others isn't optional, but a matter of certainty. I don't get to pick and choose those who are deserving of my help, but as often as the call comes, or the need arises, that which is in my power to do is done with the right heart. The right heart means secrecy and privacy; no announcing from the rooftop; no celebration of acts of charity or seeking the praise of men. 

It has to be acts taken with a heart that is grateful to God for the privilege to even give at all, knowing that it is able to give simply because God first gave. I give out of a heart of gratitude for what I have also received. There is no room for pride or any self-sufficiency, but an eternal appreciation of who God is, what He has given and all that is ahead. Have I taken hold of the free gift of life that is in Jesus? If yes, what would I give to others today in appreciation of that great gift? You can't give what you don't have, but when you have Jesus, yoy have all it takes to change the lives of all around you. God's time of favour is here.