"What I Have I Give You"

Driving by a raggedy dressed person holding the sign "please help" or "out of work" or "hungry" always leaves me feeling conflicted. My experience as a nurse has taught me that not all persons holding a cardboard sign are genuine. There are some who are truly homeless and hungry and then there are others who are grifters. How does one tell the difference? To give or not to give this is the question.

I was running errands after church making the rounds at Wal-Mart and Sams Club. I was in the mood for fat, salt, and grease so I headed to Steak and Shake. At the stoplight near S&S I saw a man holding a cardboard sign. I sighed and was thankful the light was green. I then went through the drive thru window. My heart leaped with pleasure when she handed me my bag of fresh, hot, salty shoestring French fries. I could literally see the salt crystals clinging to the sides of each fry. I pulled out of the drive through and turned back towards the stop light where the man with the sign was. The light turned red. I rolled down my electric window, handed him my hot fries and said, "Here, you're killing me." He said, "Thank you, God bless you." and I drove off mourning the loss of my hot salty fries.

"Here, you're killing me", not exactly the words Peter used in the book of Acts. Peter says, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you…" Now why couldn't I have said something like that?

Sometimes it hurts me to give. Sometimes I don't feel like it. But following Jesus Christ is not about feeling good all the time. It's about obeying all the time.

I don't know if I handed my fries over to a homeless man, a grifter, or an angel in disguise. It doesn't matter. What matters is obedience.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive me when I don't want to give. May I choose to give more freely and trust that you are at work when I do.

In Jesus Name,
Jane


Luke 6:38 (New International Version)

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Acts 3:1-7 (New International Version)
Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.