“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Teofilo said to Christobel the new convert in the little mission chapel in Cuba: “Christobel, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give 50 of them for the Lord's work?”
"Yes, I would."
“Would you do the same if you had 100 cows"
"Yes, Teofilo, I would"
"Would you do the same if you had 100 horses"
"Yes, of course,"
“If you had 2 pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord?"
“No I wouldn't and you have no right to ask me, Teofilo, for you know I have two pigs."
Sharing is the give and take, giving and receiving. Christian community sees a need and seeks to meet it. Christian community is made aware of your need and seeks to meet it with the resources of the body. Our first obligation is to our Lord, our family, then God's family and then to all for you never know when you help an angel without knowing it according to Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
It is not healthy to always be receivers. We are all receivers seeking to share with those in need without expecting anything in return, but realize that when we give we also receive something in return. We have already received and are promised more in the future, if not now, later.
Our Savior made this clear when He told what would happen to the person who leaves all ("houses or brothers or sister or father or mother or children or fields") for Jesus' sake: he "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Mt. 19:29)
God taught the principle of sharing. He reminds us of what we have received. Then He tells us to give to others just as freely as we have received from Him. He promised to reward us for investing our lives, our talents, and our money in His service. He shared with us so we give ourselves to Him. He gives to use and we share to others, who take whatever gifts they may have, not always material, and share with others.
One woman, after hearing of the need of a fellow believer, made out a check for the amount of the need. Having thanked the lady for her gift she said, “It is not a gift from me for it isn’t mine. God has lent to me material resources that I may in His name use it and give to those in His name what is His.”
A sharer understands that we are stewards of the things God gives us. If another needs it, it isn't really ours, it is God's and so with a light heart and joy of being a servant of Jesus we can help those who come to our attention.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that everything I have is Yours. May my hands always be open to those in need.
