College Friend: “Peanut butter and jelly again?”
Dear Husband: “Yeah, we have them for supper, too.”
Friend: “I like peanut butter and jelly.”
Dear Husband: “I used to.”
Friend: “Here, I’ll trade you. Take my student meal ticket and get lunch. I’ll eat your sandwich.”
This pitiful/generous conversation occurred 52 years ago and dear Husband remembers it to this day. We had been married for six months and had just returned to Chicago so dear Husband could finish his remaining year and a half of Bible school. I had graduated and was newly employed, but my first paycheck was still 3 weeks away. Things were tight. The expense of moving across the country, furnishing our tiny apartment with used furniture, and paying school expenses had left us with a small food budget. Husband’s friend was also a student without resources, but he shared what he had- a meal ticket- often. And we’ll never forget it. PS Some time later, at the ripe old age of 20, this dear friend became our pastor and we had him to Sunday dinner after each of his excellent sermons.
After Bible school, dear Husband went on to aviation school preparing to serve missionaries and nationals through air transportation. By then, I was a stay-at-home mom of two littles while his school day was 8-5:00. Things were financially tight again. Then one day at church we were told we would be the recipients of a “pounding”. We weren’t sure if we should be worried or not. It turns out that anyone willing could gift us with a pound of food. (Or more!). Shortly after, I can remember standing in the little room where the kitchen sink and our antique washing machine were, looking at the open shelf where home canned green beans, pickles, sauerkraut, and other canned gifts were neatly lined. The sun was streaming in the window on them. They were a beautiful sight!

 

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” James 2:14-16

I’ll never forget dear Husband walking into the parking lot after his graduation ceremony one July evening, taking off his tie and throwing it in the back seat to begin a 72 hour non-stop day and night drive with his little family to a job interview he had scheduled on the other side of the country. We broke down within miles of the interview which then had to be postponed till the following morning. He got the job and began working immediately at the airport. Come Christmas, there just wasn’t any extra money for gifts. But a man a few years older and established in a good job slipped a bill into dear Husband’s shirt pocket at church. Needless to say, it was used to buy Christmas presents. That was 49 years ago and we still remember his generosity. If I could list the people and their kindnesses that propelled us along our path, I would be writing for days. We wouldn’t be here in old age happy and fulfilled without those generous givers.

So what’s my point? Simply this: When you have enough, share. You don’t have to be rich to be a benefactor. Little gifts from little people are much in God’s sight. He desires equality- enough for all. There will always be some who have more than others, but the goal is that all have enough.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.””(Exodus 16:18)  2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Everyone is expected to work. The ‘Don’t work, don’t eat’ rule is for everyone’s good. Work gives us fulfillment, satisfaction, and reward. It teaches us responsibility and prevents idleness and disruptiveness. It’s good for the well-being of individuals and society. (I’m not saying all work happens in the workplace, BTW. Some of the hardest workers I have known are women who never got a paycheck, but worked industriously in the home.)

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

Our first job is provide for our own families.

“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. . . Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. . .” 1 Timothy 5:4,8

We will always know those who are diligently working and still have unmet needs. And there are always those who are too old or too sick to work. We are blessed if we share what we have to make their lives better.
Then there are those who are devastated by disasters or war. God is clear that these need our care even though we don’t personally know them. In these cases we can give to a trustworthy entity that is transparent and accountable in administering the funds – our churches and other aid agencies. I trust: China Aid, Samaritan’s Purse, and Barnabas Aid.  The early churches provided for each other. When one group was in need, the others sent money by trustworthy, chosen men to deliver the funds to the church leaders in the area hit by famine.

“We want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing happiness and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 Paul talking about giving to help the believers in Jerusalem experiencing a famine.

When you have enough, share. You don’t have to be rich to be a benefactor. Little gifts from little people are much in God’s sight. He desires equality- enough for all.

All images made with Ai, guided and edited by me.