As long as you hold onto what you have—it will never become more than it is, but when you give what you have—it always has the potential to become more.
In Matthew 14 Jesus had a need. He needed to get away to be by himself. John the Baptist had just been beheaded and he wanted to spend time alone and pray to his father, but the crowd was there and they had a need. They were hungry and there was no place to get food. However, there was a little lad there that had a lunch. Jesus knew and His disciples knew it. It was the only source of food there, but it wasn’t enough, that is until it was given away and blessed by Jesus. The little lad gave his lunch away, and what wasn’t enough—became more than enough! The little lunch of the lad fed multitudes that day. But, it didn’t have the potential to become more until he gave it away. Why did he give it? Did he give out love? I would like to think so. Most people don’t just give to give they give because they love or because they believe in a cause, or a purpose. They desire to be a part of something that is bigger than themselves—something that is greater than what they currently have or that they are capable of on their own. Luke 12:15 says, “People do not get life from the many things they own.” A little boy with a little lunch, gave it away and it fed thousands. When we give it always has the potential to become more and when we give it always outlast us and lives on in the life of others.
We are never more like God than when we give. For God so loved—that He gave. Giving to meet a need is benevolent and admirable, but giving from a place of love is beautiful and lasting. Mother Theresa said, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into our giving.”
We should give out of love. We should be a conduit. A conduit is a channel by which resources are received, conveyed and then distributed.
A seed has to be sown to produce a harvest.
A tree has to planted to bring forth fruit.
When we give it always has the potential to become more.
Jesus knew exactly who was there and what was there in regard to resources.
He sent his disciples out to get what was there and bring it to Him so that he could bless it and break and then the disciples gave back what they had gathered.
They collected what was available and then they distributed it back to those in need.
That’s what the foundation does. They collect and distribute. The foundation is a conduit.
Giving to an immediate need not only meets the need in the moment, but it also provides a way to make the world a better place for people in the process.
The little lad had what no one else had—he had lunch, but when he gave it away it became more than it was and fed multitudes.
I’m also reminded of two Old Testament stories about two widows who had an exchange and an encounter with an Old Testament prophet. One was with the prophet Elisha and one was with the prophet Elijah. One was in regard to some oil and flour and one was concerning a small jar of olive oil. Both widows had a need and neither had enough to provide for their need or for their future. Their need wasn’t met until one expanded capacity and one gave away what she already had.
The Bible says (Luke 12:48), “To whom much is given—much is required.” I say, “We are never more like God, than when we give!” Therefore, we see a need, we care, we love, and we give. And when we give it has the potential to become more and continue to live on in the lives of others. May you continue to be a conduit that blesses others, while creating opportunities for things to become more and better in the process.
As long as you hold onto what you have—it will never become more than it is, but when you give what you have—it always has the potential to become more.
