Bread for the JourneySample

What You Share

If you have brothers or sisters, as is my case, you probably remember the many times your parents told you, "You have to learn to share." Sometimes we suffered when, believing we had something just for ourselves, we suddenly heard that proverbial phrase and had to divide what we liked so much, whether we wanted to or not.

If we learned well, sharing is now a quality that should adorn our lives. Sharing won't always lead to having less. Of course, when we talk about material things, it's very likely that if we had three chocolates and shared them with two other people, we'd only have one left. And so it will be with many shared things.

That's why we link the word "sharing" with the well-known expression of having a good heart. Because sharing means giving from what I have. But as I mentioned, sharing doesn't always take away from us. On the contrary, sharing our valuable treasures results in them increasing.

When Peter told the paralyzed man, “What I do have I give you,” what he shared was the power of the name of Christ that he already possessed. “Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6, NIV) Did that power diminish after the miracle? No, Peter continued to work according to the power of God that was in him.

The apostle Paul shared abundantly the word of wisdom that God gave him, and the more he shared that wisdom, the more we see him filled with divine wisdom. When we share what God has given us, we don't end up with less. This is because God's will is that we share.

But when we share, it shouldn't be like when we were children and gave because we had no other choice. In the Lord, sharing is a sign of love, of surrender, of seeing the other person's need and being moved to mercy.

The Bible urges us to give cheerfully. It could be a little of our time, some advice, words of encouragement, financial provision, food, clothing, etc. When we discover the happiness there is in sharing what God has given us with others, we are encouraged to keep sharing. As Paul says to the Ephesians transformed by their faith in Christ: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28, NIV)

Christ lived on this earth by sharing what He had. Let's ask the Lord to help us live the same way.