GIVE THANKS BY GIVING
by Dr. Wayne Evans

          
      A boy went to hear Jesus preach. When Jesus finished his teaching the disciples suggested sending the crowds away to purchase food.  Instead Jesus told the Twelve to feed the 5,000 people.

      The lad didn’t have much: just  5 rolls and two fish.  He could have said,  “What I have is just enough to feed myself. I’m just a kid. What difference could I make with so many hungry people?”  (John 6:9)

       Instead the child gave the little that he had to Jesus, who multiplied the gift and fed a crowd of 5,000.  When times are tough, we can withdraw into our shell and live into a belief that this is a dog-eat-dog world.  The temptation is to keep what little we have for ourselves. 

        Or we can walk by faith as the boy did who gave his lunch to Jesus.  People of faith trust God who always provides for his people. As my friend Wes Lynch said last week, “I don’t believe God is an ATM like at the bank. Some people talk as if they put the right prayer in God will give you everything you want.” 

    When we give to God, we open our lives to receiving what God wants to give to us.  I have rung the bell for the Salvation Army to collect money for the needy for the last couple of years. I have noticed that the most poorly dressed people are the most frequent donors.  They have compassion for others because they know what it is like to be hungry themselves.  They have learned the best way to give thanks for what God has done for them is to give.

     Are you worried about the future?  I respectfully suggest the best way to find a faith that will see you through these tough times is to find someone worse else than yourself and help that person.  Everyone has something to give.

     One of the few quotations of Jesus found in the Bible outside the gospels is this one.  “ The Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts of the Apostles 20:35)  If you want a blessing, start giving.   Give to your church or other charity to help those in need. If you are out of work, call Christian Community Action to volunteer to help distribute aid to others. Go visit the lonely at a nursing home.  Call up a school and volunteer to just read aloud to first graders.  You don’t have to have a diploma from high school or college to do any of these things.  God tells you to give proportionally. That means give from what you do have, not what you wish you had.

 Wayne Evans is pastor of Ruston’ Grace United Methodist Church. An archive of past columns is at www.graceruston.org. Follow the link to the “Pastor’s Page.”