Publications... Weekly E-Devotional
Weekly E-Devotional for 5/28/2009
Untitled 1
“Keeping Only What You Give Away”
The man across the lunch table didn’t need to say it. It was written
all over his face. But he went on to explain:
“I used to be a joyful Christian. When I committed my life to Christ, I
was flooded with tremendous joy. But it didn’t last. Now, I guess
I’d say my faith is bland, my prayers are routine, and life is flat again … just
like it was before. What’s wrong with me? I need you to help me find
the joy I used to have.”
Evidently that man was speaking for a multitude of Christians. “I need
you to help me find the joy I used to have.” How would you have answered
him? I just listened as he went on in that vain. Then he changed the
subject, seeming not to want to dwell on that too much. But if he had let
me, I would have answered him with questions. Questions like, “What did
you do to share your joy when you had it? What risks did you take
following Christ? Were you involved in sharing your faith? Can you
identify anyone who is going to live forever because of what you shared with
them? Were you involved with people who are hurting? Did your faith
make a difference where you live – at home, at work, or in the aching problems
of our community?
You see, joy is one thing you can keep only as you give it away. There
is a parable in the 25th chapter of Matthew known as the Parable of Talents.
The basic lesson of the parable is what we are doing with the abundant life
Christ has given us. The truth is that God has blessed you and I more than
we deserve in ten lifetimes. God has been good to us and so often instead
of sharing that with others, we focus still on what we do not have. But
whether what you have seems to be a little or a lot, it will be multiplied only
as we share it with others. As the poet has put it:
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Make the decision to live life beyond yourself. Take opportunities to
share God’s goodness and faithfulness with others. What you will find is
that, in the final analysis, you can only keep what you give away.
I’m praying and pulling for you.
Bobby
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