God wants your stuff

Matthew 14: 13-21; Mark 6: 37-38; Romans 8: 31-39

It's time to save humanity. The odds are against us, and the outlook is dim. It's such a big job. It's so difficult to find people to help. What are we supposed to do? What does everyone need? What do they want? How are we going to reach them?

When the disciples looked over the crowd and realized it was past time for dinner, they were faced with a very big problem. They were trying to figure out how they were going to serve 10-20 thousand people dinner. (If you figure one woman and two children per man) They were beside themselves. Look at all those people! And they're hungry. Big Problem!

Not knowing what to do, the disciples did what they always did. They turned to Jesus for an answer, his answer borders on the simplistic, and yet, is a very good question. He asked them what they had. But the disciples didn't have anything, and that was the problem. We have a similar problem.

Today, there are people who are hungry for God. They don't always realize it, but they are searching for fulfillment in life that comes from a close bond with God. We see them everyday, going to work, going to school, going here, going there, they are all around us. We see the needs of the people today, and we pray asking God for help, and He asks us the same question Jesus asked the disciples; "what do you have?"

We have a lot of stuff. Many of us are blessed with a talent or a gift that we can use. Some of us are blessed with the financial means to help fund a ministry. Some of us have the ability to pray for each other. Many different things we have. Is this the only stuff Jesus wants us to bring to him? We always think about the positive stuff we have as an asset, and we bring it to God for him to use in the ministry of the church. But this is not always the stuff that God wants us to bring for him to use. We also have negative stuff, the burdens that we carry. We have sorrow, we have cares, we have problems, and we have the tragedies of life. These things God can use.

A problem we have to deal with is getting over the idea that God cannot take the negative stuff in our lives and use it in a positive way. This is simply not true! God not only knew our needs, but also knows the needs of others, and knows how our experiences can help others. We don\rquote t see it, but God does.

Sometimes, our help is given to others in a physical way. We help with food or finances, or medical expenses, give someone clothes. We give this help to ease the physical suffering of those around us, so we can help them understand that the love of God extends to their daily lives. Sometimes our help is given in an emotional way. We meet someone at the grocery store, they look distressed, so we talk to them, and offer a word of comfort. They seem to be going in five directions at once, they are confused about things, and we show them a way to end the confusion. We offer them peace instead of turmoil in their mind. Sometimes the help we give is spiritual. We meet someone who is searching for answers. They are looking for God. They think he exists, but they're not sure. We share our testimony with them, and show them how God has been with us through the trials of our lives, and hopefully, they begin to realize that not only does God exist, but He loves and cares for them.

Today, God looks over the landscape of humanity and sees a world that is in need. As Christians, we have been called by God to go to the ones in need and help them. We have been called to save humanity. It isn't an easy job. The task seems almost impossible. It doesn't look like we'd ever be able to pull it off. We look at ourselves and think that God can't possibly use us to do such a large task, and yet, Jesus calls, telling us to bring our stuff.

Why does God want our stuff? It's not very pleasing to look at. It can be a burden to listen to. It can be painful to watch. Why would God want our stuff? What good would our stuff possibly be to God? Wow, what a question! Do we know what God has in mind for each one of us every day of the week? No. We don't always know exactly why God wants our stuff. God my just want to help make our burden easier. God may want to use the experiences we gained in bearing that burden to help someone else who bears the same burden. We really just don't always know, do we?

What burdens that you carry, or have carried, are other people you know, or come into contact with carrying right now? We don't always know, but God does. God sees the stuff we carry. God wants it! And God wants to use us to help make other people's burdens easier to bear.

So how about it? Are you willing to give God your stuff?

© 1999, 2000 Eric Bicknell - All Rights reserved

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