Offering

My acquaintances ask me questions. My friends want answers.  My family looks for guidance.  What do I have to offer?  There is no wisdom like Lewis, no inspiration like Swindoll or insight like Zacharias.  Stinky fish and moldy bread are all I have to offer.

In John 6:9, there is a glimpse into a little boys life.  He probably got up early that day to hurry through his chores because he had heard about the open air event with the great new man about town.  He didn't know this Jesus like we know Him now but he knew He was something special and he had to be there.  He finished his chores and headed for the door...of course mom must have stopped him. "Don't forget your lunch. You may need it!"....If she only knew!

At the event the disciples were searching for food to fulfill Jesus' request to feed the multitudes.  Not unlike me, the disciples were probably mocking the situation at hand.  Inwardly they were saying, "you want us to feed all these people?  See what you can do with some moldy bread and stinky fish."  And just like Jesus, he punishes their thoughts by building their faith.

Back to the boy....I don't see that he questioned the disciples to see how much food they needed.  He created no other obstacles or issues.  Is it good?  Is it enough?  Are people allergic to barley or fish?  What will I eat?  Will mom be mad?  They asked for food, he had food....he gave it.

There is so much to do.  I wish the eyes of the skeptics would open, the stomachs of the doubters would fill and the hearts of the lost would find their way home but I have so little to offer.  Did that little boy give his lunch to feed the multitudes?  I don't really think he thought about it.  There was a request and he gave what he had.  His lunch was not blessed because he gave much but because he gave it.  Do I hear a request and say, "this is mine, use it" or do I bow at the feet of Jesus and say, "this is yours, take it"? 

Often I blame people for who they are or what I think they have made me.  Maybe my teachers were too hard on me or my Dad was too serious or my pastor went on and on about sin. They weren't perfect....wow man, that's some sound insight!  All these people I find fault with had offerings similar to mine.  God did incredible things with their lives.  They used the gifts God had granted to do things He needed done and most of those things had nothing to do with fulfilling my expectations.

Many times I think offerings are what I see as worthy or what I classify as usable that I return to my Savior, maybe money or expertise or wise teaching.  I'm pretty sure God does not need my "greatness" to do anything.  Often it's the stinky fish and moldy bread He uses to feed those that are starving.

Is it easy to offer God my bread and fish?  No.  Am I ashamed to offer Him so little?  Yes.  But He didn't ask for much, He asked for me...an offering that He can make pleasing in His sight.

Gift

In a previous blog I believe I told you about some early college experiences I had in the Colorado Rockies.  I was privileged to take part, with many wonderful people, in a life changing time.  Many men and women of God filled my life with all types of backgrounds and ideas.  I was young and developing a sense of who God was and how I fit in this thing called life.  I was blessed with four professors who loved their God deeply but one man had an insight that seemed to click with me.   He was very kind and had a non-judgmental concern with a deep desire that we would pull as much out of our Creator as possible.  He was a no-nonsense biologist and taught with a sense of practicality I haven't really seen since.  Maybe this appreciation was enhanced by the mercy he showed by not flunking a terrified freshman out of his biology class. 

Years later at a reunion I was awarded a complement from this man of which I will never forget.  I went to a Bible and engineering school and received a degree in recreation and camp administration....go figure.  At the reunion most of us guys were helping this professor unload a bunch of wood into the lodge.  He had backed his new truck up a small hill to shorten the carrying distance.  When the wood was unloaded and the truck swept out the tailgate wouldn't close.  The engineers were calculating the derivatives, angles, pressure points complete with leverage analysis.  The spiritual leaders were calculating the amount of sin we had committed in our determination to close the tailgate.  I was lost amongst the math and the stress.  I said, "the truck looks catawampus maybe if we drive the truck onto level ground, the gate will close."  What do you know!  The tailgate closed with ease.  I had nothing to offer but a drive down the hill.  My professor said six words that encouraged me greatly, "I like the way you think" , then he went about his business....serving us. 

He taught the intricacies of life to show us the awesomeness of our Creator.  He knew it wasn't about him and his brilliance, it was about God and his majesty.  "If you can't piece together ameba's, protozoa's and cell division, don't worry about it.  Just be amazed that God has it all in control and you will be fine."  Wow, I still had a chance!

A few horses had taken Dr. Compton to task and I still see him hobbling down to the water pump.  I miss his wily wisdom.  I wish I could sit down again and talk about the greatly complicated and wonderfully simple aspects of our incredible God.  Dr. Compton was brilliant, compassionate, humble and loved his God dearly.  I was able to study under this man.  What an incredible gift I was given!