What would you never give away?

June 19, 2020 | Gretchen Tilly

About the author: Gretchen Tilly is a member of ZPC and is actively involved in missions. She has served on the Mission Commission twice and is part of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) ministry. She has been greatly changed by visiting Egypt several times as well as Jordan, UAE, and Iraq. If you ask her why she loves the MENA region, she’ll tell you that after visiting, a huge part of her heart remains there—and she hopes to visit it as soon as she can!

Today's Scripture: Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

In my small, contemplative group, the author of the book we’re reading asks, “What is it that we would not give away no matter who needed it?” A little later, she makes this statement, “Whatever it is that we would not give away can tell us a great deal about ourselves.” (Ouch!)

What is it that you would never give away? Your career or a promotion? Your car? Or a hobby? Time? Your grandmother’s china?  
__________fill in the blank________________

Most of us know a number of Bible verses that speak to holding on to earthly possessions (Luke 12:34 and Matthew 6:21; Matthew 6:19; Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33) and I get it, we’re not supposed to store up treasure on Earth. But to be honest, I have something that I treasure, that I’m deeply thankful for, that is a huge gift from God, and that I’m holding onto as tight as I can. Let me explain. 

I am one of the millions of workers without a job. It’s a scary time for me and countless others. I’m single and while I don’t have to worry about feeding and providing for a family, there’s no plan B, no spouse who might help with finances and moral support.  

So what does all that have to do with my prized possession? Not having a permanent job means no stable income which could lead to losing it at some point in the future. So what is IT? IT is my sweet, little, simple, lovely, wonderful, house. And why is it so important to me? It is my home, my casa, my base camp where I can return to each day. It represents permanence in this constantly changing world of unknowns, and it’s where I can just be.

I don’t know what is going to happen and how this chapter in my life will end, but I know that I have hope because:

  • The Lord will never leave me and never forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5b)
  • He has plans for me—to give me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
  • When I trust in him with all my heart and acknowledge him in everything I do, he will make my paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5)
  • He lavishes his love on me! (1 John 3:1)

Knowing all this, my response is/should be/will try to be:

  • Offering my house to the Lord, acknowledging that it isn’t mine to begin with.
  • Loosely holding my house and thanking him for the gift that it is each day.
  • Trusting him to provide a new job.
  • Keeping my eyes open for what he wants to give me, knowing that I may need to let go of everything in order to grasp what he has for me. 

Today, please pray with me:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for all the things with which you have blessed me. Help me to never forget that everything I have comes from you. And now I offer back to you all that you have given me. Help me to remember that I am blessed to be a blessing, and may I be so. Please be with those who need your healing touch, your hope, and your love. In everything I say, do, and think, may I continually and always honor and glorify you.
In Jesus’ precious name I pray,
Amen.

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