What do you do when you have nothing but desire to do everything?
Here’s the thing, lately I’ve been feeling a spirit of insignificance. I can feel the emotions of people who feel helpless and insignificant. With the touchdown of Hurricane Harvey, we begin to see heroes born from adversity. People from all over are giving, serving, donating, and some even courageous enough to rescue victims from the waters. AMAZING. But what about the ones who have nothing to give? Who can’t swim? Who don’t have boats? But they have every desire to do something…
Today I am reminded of two widows in the Bible. One in the book of Mark and the other in the book of 2nd Kings.
Mark 12: 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
After reading this I got so many revelations. The one I found to be most relevant right now is that this poor widow’s gift was not enough to move the crowd but it was enough to move God. Some of us will have gifts that are captivating and enduring. Some will get thousands of likes. Some will give thousands of dollars. Then there are some who will only get a simple thank you. No one will see your sacrifice or your passion or your heart.
Sometimes the greatest gifts go unseen and unreported. In the times when you have nothing to give —give from your empty place. I know people have said that you can’t give from an empty cup. In fact, I’ve said it. But today I stand corrected. It’s when we give from what we think is nothing that our jars become full. And honestly, we all have something to give.
Say to yourself I have nothing to give but…and look around at what you have. That is your gift. I have nothing to give BUT my love. I have nothing to give BUT my testimony. I have nothing to give BUT my time. I have nothing to give BUT my prayers. I have nothing to give BUT my inspiration. I have nothing to give BUT my smile. I have nothing to give BUT my comfort. I have nothing to give BUT my art. I have nothing to give BUT my dance. I have nothing to give BUT my song. Whatever your but is------GIVE that and watch God overflow right there in what you thought was nothing. It was the EMPTY jars of her neighbors that helped the widow in 2nd Kings.
2nd Kings 4:2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
Note: when the EMPTY jars were no longer available, the oil stopped flowing.
Lastly, let us respond to every storm that surrounds us with a sense of urgency and a heart to give. I remember after my miscarriage there were several people who showed up to help me. But not all showed up in the same way. Some sent flowers, some sat beside me, some held my hand, some cooked, and some cleaned. Yet, I remember everyone. I remember the calls, prayers, and even text messages. Because I needed ALL of that. And while none of them conducted my surgery every gesture was needed and appreciated during my storm. Remember giving your nothing or what appears to be nothing to the natural eye is everything to God. But doing nothing does nothing for anyone.