Last weekend, I went to a town some two hours away with a group comprised of teens and leaders from my local church. We went to serve at a local ministry that distirbutes food and clothing every Saturday to the poor in the city. It was a privilege to hand out thousands of pounds of food and other resources to people in a community that has a nearly 35% unemployment rate. We came to bless others out of love for God and love for them. But, typical of the way God works, we left later in the day with hearts that were both broken and blessed. One special moment during the day reminded me much of the widow that Jesus observed who gave “everything she had to live on” when she placed two coins in the collection box at the temple (Mark 12:41-44). For, during our distribution of food and clothing, a man who had been given a box of soda cans ripped it open and offered cans to people waiting in the food line. He said, “I can’t drink this all, here, take one!” He gave what had been given to him. He gave what he had.

Sometimes you might not feel you have much to give. You might not think you can follow the example of John the Baptist who taught, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry” (Luke 3:11). But the reality? Just as that man shared the little he had with others last Saturday, you and I have so much that God has given us to share with others today . . .