What Can I Give?

GIVE, A RARE LESSON, FEW LEARN… WHAT CAN I GIVE?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

SOME LESSONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO TEACH AND DIFFICULT TO LEARN…

Text: Acts 20:35 (KJV) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 (MSG) In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.' "

*1. LOVE GIVES: COME LET US REASON TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE ALL COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION & ACCEPT THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN LOVE AND GIVING.

Years ago I was in a service when the Preacher started the lesson by reading the Word of God.

Then the service took an unusual twist, the Preacher announced this is going to be a service ABOUT GIVING. I want every person here to give somebody something to someone? And the Preacher sat down and started crying? Wow? What is this? For a while there was stillness and quiet. When one lady started digging down in her purse and pulled out something? She then got up and walked over to another lady and gave her the gift she had pulled out of her purse. They started crying and hugging. Another lady started crying and pulled out something and cross the church and told another person how much she loved and respected her and gave her a present. See, no one knew about the giving prior to the service. So no one was prepared. A teenager got up and said I have nothing to give, but I want to give something? So the teen had tears pouring down her face and she went around and started giving “grunting hugs.” I was a visitor and knew only a few people. I started crying watching the people going around the church and hugging and giving to each other. I had a special knife that a friend had given me several years before. I carried the knife and loved the man that gave it to me thus I loved the knife. I saw a man standing over in the corner all alone. I saw he was crying as a sweet spirit came over the place. I felt like I should give him my knife. So I walked over to him and introduced myself to him and I explained how I loved this knife from a friend but I knew beyond a shadow of doubt I should give it to him. We hugged and were crying and he received my gift. I returned to my pew and was enjoying the moment and praising God for what I had seen and felt in that service. The service was very quiet. I looked up and saw the Preacher was praying and crying. I thought how wonderful the service was and that how the Preacher had boldly stepped out of the norm in this service. No one knew my need, but I was so overwhelmed by joy, I forgot about time and was worshipping God. The Preacher came up to me and said, I know you are a visitor and I do not want to embarrass you, but said from the start of the service, I felt I was supposed to give you something, even before I shared the heart of God. Tears were running down our faces. I knew the Preacher was going through a difficult time, we shook hands and there was something rolled up, we hugged each other and quietly left. I looked and there was a hundred dollar bill in my hand. I gave something I loved and I received, my need was met. Wow, this was one powerful service. I learned a new aspect of God.

#2. LOVE GIVES THE BEST IT CAN. GOD IS LOVE AND GOD SO LOVED US --- GAVE THE BEST THING IN HEAVEN…

Many years ago I took my wife to Walmart Christmas shopping. I can’t keep up with her. It was a beautiful, warm day so I went outside and sat on a bench and waited. There was a large wooden box and it had TOYS for TOTS painted on the side. A brand new large Lincoln Continental pulled up and a boy and girl climbed out to place their gifts in the box. I saw the boy place a large TONKA TRUCK, and the girl placed a doll baby in the box and they jumped back in the car and they were so proud of themselves.

I got up and went over and looked, the TONKA TRUCH was rusted and missing a wheel? I pulled out the doll baby, the hair had been cut and she was bald in much of her hair. The baby doll had magic marker all over it. The toys they gave was a heartache for me. No one would have wanted them! No one!