Use What God Gave You

I once read about a man who went on a five-day journey across a blazing hot desert. He could only carry enough water for half the trip. Others who’d made the journey before, however, assured him there was a well at the halfway point where he could get enough water to slake his thirst and refill his bottles.

Sure enough, he ran out of water right when he came to the well. It had one of those old-time pump handles, so he began pumping but nothing happened. It coughed and sputtered, but nothing came out.

Then he spotted a sign that read,

“In order for this well to work, the pump has to be primed. Dig down and you’ll find a jug of water. Pour the water down the well to prime the pump, and you’ll have all the water you need.”

He had a choice to make. Did he risk wasting the jug of water by pouring it down the well? He could drink it and be satisfied temporarily, but that wouldn’t take him through the rest of his journey. What was he to do?

We all face choices like this sometimes, don’t we?

In 2 Kings, there’s an amazing story of a widow who had – humanly speaking – nothing to help her pay off an insurmountable debt. But the prophet Elisha gave the widow a command similar to the instructions this traveler received. He told her to pour her one remaining jar of oil into empty vessels.

It didn’t make much sense. But she obeyed.

If she never poured the oil out of that jar, she would never have been able to experience God’s abundance.

In today’s reading from Luke 6:38, our Lord takes this point even further. “Give, and it will be given to you,” He says. We give by faith, in order to receive by faith. We pour out the oil, so to speak, and watch the Lord turn the little jar of oil into a wellspring of oil.

You see, it’s not just about meeting your own needs. We are to give abundantly—pour out what we have with a generous measure—because that same measure will be used for us.

In other words …

If you want to experience a miracle, you must first use what God has given you.

If God asked you, “What are you doing with what I have given you?” How would you respond? Are you pouring it on or are you pouring it out? Are you using it or hoarding it?

Jesus tells us in Luke 6 that when we give, He gives to us in return.

But His giving doesn’t happen until we give.

Are you giving of your time, talent, and treasure? If you’re not pouring out your life and what you’ve been given, you will never experience miracles in your impossible situation.

Your life is like the jug of water the man found in the desert. And as his story continues, he did pour the water into the well. Only then was he able to pump forth gallons of clean, refreshing water.

But how many of us don’t take that important and scary step? We don’t pour anything out because we’re afraid God will not come through. You can’t ask God for a miracle unless you are willing to step out and do what He says by faith.

With God’s strength, begin pouring out kindness to that harsh family member. Follow God in obedience and tithe to your local church, even if it stretches you financially.

Take the first step and do whatever it is God has been asking you to do.

When tough times are pounding on your door, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you just don’t have what it takes to overcome your situation.

But it’s precisely in those times that God wants you to remember to use what He has already given you.

God isn’t saying that He WILL give you what you need; You’ve ALREADY got it!

He’s simply asking you to use what He’s already given you.

As you obey, you can be confident that God will respond in abundance. Remember, God will not do what you can do. And you cannot do what He can do!  

I hope you’ve grown in your faith through this teaching. And let me encourage you to dive deeper into biblical truth by signing up for our weekly devotional, where you’ll find more biblical content like this!

 

I pray you’re encouraged!

1. Why do you think God wants you to pour out what you have into others’ lives, even if it’s only a little? Is there something keeping you from doing so?

2. How is God calling you to step out in faith and use what He has already given you?  Pray and ask Him to help you use what you have for His glory.