“You Have A Lot to Give”
By Dianne Prince
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7, NIV).
Jesus, at His birth was wrapped in rags made from hand-me down, used clothing – swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes are nothing more than rags or swatches of patches made from used clothing. They are formed from hand me downs. The reminder for us is, the value was not in the wrapping, but the value was in baby Jesus Himself. Jesus was born in a dirty stable, wrapped in rags, and placed in a trough used to feed animals. How he looked and how he was treated did not change the fact that He had a lot to give.
Like Jesus at His birth, many of us may not have much. We may not look like much. And we may not speak politically correctly. Be mindful that our value does not lie in what is on the outside. Our worth is not based on what others see when they look at us, what they say when they speak of us, or what they think of us. Our value is based on what is on the inside. It is based on the frequency with which we talk to God, how we respond to the curve balls life throws our way, how we treat other people, and the kind of life we choose to live.
God did not send us into the world to impress the world, but to improve the world. Many of us think we do not have anything to give to make the lives of those around us better. Giving should not be based on our financial standing or on our material possessions. Money cannot fill the void caused by loneliness. It cannot lift you out of depression. It cannot boost your self-esteem and money cannot soothe the heartbreak cause by the death of a loved one. We each have so much within us that we can give to improve the lives of others. Thus, make up your mind today to improve somebody’s outlook by sharing a smile. Instill hope in someone who has given up by sharing a kind word. Boost their self-worth by sharing your time. Infuse life in someone who has withdrawn from society by sharing the love of God with them.
Remember today, you have a lot to give. So, get busy. The world is waiting for you and Jesus is depending on you.
