Nothing Is Wasted

I consider myself a pretty generous person. After all, my love languages are gifts and acts of service. I’m quick to give to a missionary or cause whenever presented to me. There are instances, however; when I can be conservative with my money. One such moment happened a few months ago.

After Sunday service, I drove across the street to fill my car up with gas. I was in a season of financial lack due to circumstances beyond my control. My plan was to get a little bit of gas and groceries and hunker down for the next week or so. As I pulled up to the tank, I noticed an older man sitting at the door of the gas station with a cane. He looked disheveled and a slightly depressed. To my dismay, we made eye contact. Everyone knows the feeling you get when making eye contact with a homeless person. You feel guilty as well as obliged to help them. Usually, I shrug this feeling off. Homelessness always felt like a bigger problem to me. I assumed the person maybe addicted to drugs. I’ve witnessed times when the person was exploited by someone taking all their money. Another time, I observed a con artist use his money to fill up his brand-new car and buy expensive cigarettes. Needless to say, my heart has been closed to the homeless.

On this particular day, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to buy him some food. Initially, I disregarded the thought. Why would God tell me to buy this guy chips and a bottle of water? Money was a little tight. Why should I waste it? The longer I stood at the pump waiting for the tank to fill up, the more the nag tugged at my spirit. It also felt as though my gaze kept meeting that of the man sitting by the door. Finally, I locked my car and went inside to purchase the snacks. I grabbed the chips and bottle of water and proceeded to the long checkout line. With a smile in my eyes, I walked over to the man with my offering. He smiled and declined the snacks! “I’m just sitting here waiting for my friend,” he replied. “Church was good this morning. I just walked over here from across the street,” he said as he pointed to my church. Annoyed, I returned to my vehicle. “Great Lord,” I grumbled. “What am I supposed to do with this bag of chips? I don’t even eat chips like that. He probably felt some kind of way because I got food instead of giving him money. What was the point of all that?” Then I heard so clearly, “It was never about him. It was about you.”

There it was the hard truth. God wanted to deal with my heart posture. How often do we have a closed hand to others? We want God to bless us. We sing about living our lives in such a way that brings Him glory. Yet, when He gives us an instruction, we create an excuse or disregard it. We turn a blind eye to those in need. After all our society caters to this mindset. It encourages the idea of looking out for yourself. Stepping on others to get ahead or hoarding up things for yourself. As Christians, we are called to live differently. The Bible says that we can not serve God and mammon. Now, mammon goes beyond money. It is the pursuit of money sometimes at the expense of being obedient to God. (Don’t believe me. How many Christians neglect tithing because of financial reasons?) Being generous breaks the spiritual hold of the love of money. When we live with an open hand and pour out to others, it opens us to receive from God. He wants to bless us, but not so that we can keep it to ourselves. So that we can bring glory to Him.

So, nothing was wasted that day. God showed me the importance of opening my heart and responding to someone in need. It was never about the other person. It was about my obedience and willingness. When you live generously, it opens the door for God to use you in mighty ways. How is God challenging you today?

Be encouraged! 😊

Written by: Christa Martina

FB Page: See Martina Write

Scripture References: Deut 15:10 (AMP) “You shall freely and generously give to him, and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to him, because for this [generous] thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.”

Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”