Give and Don't Hold Back

Read

Matthew 5:42 "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Think

Picture the last cookie on the plate. Warm, chocolate chip, perfect. You have been waiting for it all through dinner. Then your friend walks up and says, "Are you going to eat that?"

Your stomach does a little flip. Because you really, really wanted that cookie.

What do you do?

Jesus said something short and powerful about moments like this. Give to the one who asks you. Do not turn away from someone who needs what you have. It is only one sentence, but it can be really hard to live out. Especially when it is the last cookie.

Here is what Jesus knew. When we hold on to everything with tight fists, our hearts get tight too. But when we open our hands and give, something happens inside us. We start to care more about people than about stuff. And caring about people is exactly what serving like Jesus is all about.

Giving does not always mean giving away cookies. Sometimes you give your time by playing with a kid who is alone at recess. Sometimes you give your turn by letting someone go first in line. Sometimes you give a toy, a snack, or a helping hand. There are a hundred ways to give every single day, and most of them do not cost a penny.

Does this mean you can never keep anything for yourself? No. Jesus is not telling you to give away everything you own. He is telling you to have an open heart instead of a closed one. To be the kind of kid who is ready to help when someone needs it, not the kind who always says, "Mine!"

God has given you so much. Every good thing you have came from him. Your food, your family, your favorite toy, all of it. And when you give to others, you are just passing along a little bit of his kindness. That is a beautiful thing to be part of.

Apply

Open your hands – Find one thing today you can give or share. A snack, a turn, a toy, or your help. When you feel your fists getting tight, choose to open them instead.

Pray

God, everything I have is a gift from you. Help me have open hands and an open heart. When someone needs what I have, give me the courage to share instead of holding on too tight. In Jesus' name. Amen.