by Dan Matheny

Created on: March 17, 2009

The Gift Makes Room for Itself

I address this subject of how to help neighbors who are struggling financially first by remembering that no gift goes without some merit. Maybe there's a cash register up in heaven somewhere that rings every time we make a sacrifice so that somebody we barely know, but who is in our nearby community, can make it one more day. In my own experience, this has been the case, for while the times may be rough, for everyone including me, we can always pull through together.

All business is local, whether it is on a global economic scale, or a transaction at a garage sale. Think about it: who buys anything from a stranger? Or someone they don't inherently trust? Gift giving, or charity, is just as much a part of business as buying and selling jet airplanes. And, it really isn't done for any different reason, except that the money flow, or the transfer of goods and services, serves a higher purpose: the wholeness and wellness of the one who is doing the giving. The feeling inside that says, "I gave back today for what I also received in times past when I, too, was in need." This is my unlikely preface for the specific ways of helping others without insulting them.

As there is only so much to go around, in order to help, or bless, one who is in need, you have to deny at least for the time being another who is in need (unfortunately, it sometimes ends up being yourself). That is, unless you are looking upon a mass of people, as Jesus did, who need to be fed, and all that is available are a few fishes and loaves of bread. In which case, it would serve us well to remember His divine example, of having what is there piecemealed out, asking that each do the same for his or her brother or sister. Our number one priority, therefore, as those who look upon our meager resources with dismay, is to address the hunger issue. Food we have. Fresh water we have. Maybe not cash, but we have something to give. Having received what we have from the Creator Himself, from the Man of Galilee, from the same Man who walked and preached and hung on a cross and rose from the dead, it is incumbent upon us to make very sure that our neighbor, our friend, and even our worst critic, has enough to eat and drink.

Isn't that the whole idea behind the Communion? If I go to church wanting to be fed, I'll at least get one small cracker. If I am lacking in wine, or "spirits", as we used to call them, I'll get one small cupful. And, it will be enough. Isn't this the giving

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