Do Not Appear Empty Handed – September 2015
Back in the olden days, the rule was that you never arrived at a neighbor’s home, especially for a dinner party, empty handed. You couldn’t even return a dish empty. One time, after providing supper for my elderly widowed neighbor, this sweet old man returned the plate with fresh tomatoes he had taken from another neighbor’s garden, citing the rule. I never knew, however, that the original idea came from Exodus 34:20b: “No one is to appear before Me empty handed.”
Two thoughts came to mind. First, the Lord does expect a tithe, which I have discussed in print before. A tithe, however, is only expected AFTER the Lord blesses us. So, once the Lord has rained on our sowing and brought forth a harvest, it doesn’t seem like much that He request a small portion, a tithe, or 10th, of what He gave us. This is what is meant by not going before our Lord empty-handed.
Second, we have spiritual gifts from the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior (1 Corinthians 12:13). So the Lord is again just asking for us to return a portion of His blessing.
We are to use His gifts and return them to Him. If your spiritual gift is hospitality, then everyone to whom, and every time you are, hospitable, you are appearing before the Lord, Not empty handed. Instead, with your arms full of love and giving.
The Spiritual gifts are found in three passages: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; and Ephesians 4:11.
Romans tells us: “ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your] faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
So here we see the gifts of prophesy, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and mercy.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 tells us: “To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”
So here we see the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, and tongues.
In Ephesians 4:11 we see the gifts of prophecy, evangelizing, pastoring, and teaching: “So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.”
With this knowledge, please allow me to ask, how have you used your spiritual gifts to appear before the Lord with your arms full? How has He blessed you in those times? What can you going to do to appear before the Lord not empty handed? What do you need to do to fill your arms for the future?
There are times in our lives when we need to be in Receive Mode—job transition, new baby, a move, divorce, death of a loved one . . . . In these times we need to accept the love and help of others. But at other times, when we are in seasons of plenty, what can we do to fill our arms, with the gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father, to provide and do good for others? Some specific ideas and steps follow:
First, if you don’t know your spiritual gifts, then learn them. You can find a Spiritual Gifts Inventory at most churches or online. It’s really enjoyable to complete the inventory and watch your spiritual gifts clearly emerge. It will explain why you feel so ready to help in some ways but less so in others. Take this information and run with it!
Also, use your senses to find ways to fill your arms. I recently realized that when the Lord blesses me with real income and more regular income, that I’ll be able to give away much more than I do now. Wow! I like that idea. So as I am more successful in my job I can bless others more, just by returning God’s blessings to Him. Look and see what is needed around you in your family, in your neighborhood, at church, in your City, and at work. Step out of your comfort zone and volunteer in new ways, maybe in the nursery or on a mission trip or whatever the Lord chooses to show you.
For example, true story coming, I was once packing my grocery bags at Aldi, because one way they keep prices low is by not having baggers. As I worked, I kept hearing the woman in line stop the clerk, over and over, asking how much she owed. Why did I keep hearing the lady ask what the total was? The Lord opened my ears to a need. When the amount got over $100 she started taking food off. This isn’t about me, it’s about the Lord. I went over and gave the lady $10 to cover the extra. That’s why the Lord was having me hear the conversation, and I obeyed. Per Exodus 34:20, I’d like to think I was appearing to the Lord with my arms full–of obedience. What needs to you see or hear around you?
Another thing to do, go to Galatians 5:22-23 and review the list of the 9 Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then ask yourself, How can you manifest these in your life today and tomorrow and next week? Specifically, what can you do for others?
The point of Exodus 34:20 is to use what the Lord has given us, and return it to Him. It can be material blessings, such as our food and homes by hosting others, either for an evening or maybe a missionary family for a weekend. It can be emotional, by offering your ear to someone who needs to vent. It may be sharing your talents by playing a musical instrument at church or, in my case, speaking at retreats. It may be using your business knowledge to help others. In all these, and far more, cases, as you do unto others, you are doing unto the Lord (Matthew 25:40), and you are appearing to Him with your arms full.
#Spiritual Gifts; Giver
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