WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND?

by Mike Dee

What’s in your hand? It’s a question that everyone needs to ask of themselves. The Father has put something in your hand. Do you know what it is? Do you know how to use it? Are you prepared to give it away?

David was a shepherd boy who was given the charge to watch over his father’s sheep. This was typically one of the “lower class” duties during that period of time. However, during his time of shepherding God instilled the very qualities that David would one day need to become king of Israel. (Don’t despise the day of small beginnings) ?? Scripture??.

One day David was asked by his father to go to the front line of the battle that was being waged between Israel and the Philistines to get a report on how his brothers were doing. David, obediently went, but was not prepared for what he was about to face. The Israelites had been challenged by the Philistines that whoever would come to fight their great warrior, Goliath, the countrymen of the loser would serve the countrymen of the victor.

David was not trained in battle, however, he had been trained by the experiences that he had acquired while tending his father’s sheep. During those years he was required to kill the bear and the lion in order to protect the sheep. He did not have weapons of war, but rather a sling and some stones and the reliance of his heavenly Father’s protection.

Upon arriving at the battle front, David observed that the there was not one man in all of Israel that would accept this challenge to fight Goliath. He went to the king and volunteered for the job. The king attempted to outfit him with the weapons of war, but David found them awkward and bulky hindering his ability to fight. How often do we try to take on the awkward and bulky burdens of man in place of the very thing that God has already given us – the thing that is in our hand! How often do we try to follow man’s plan before we try God’s way?

Most of you know how the story ends. David removes the burdens placed upon him by man (the king’s armor). He then uses the thing that God had placed in his HAND – a simple sling and 5 smooth stones. David slays the giant Goliath and goes on to become the King of Israel.

So you ask, what does this have to do with orphans in Africa? It’s about taking the thing that you have in your hand and using it for God’s kingdom. James 1:27 states that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”. You may not think that the thing in your hand is much. It may be a little money, a simple prayer, a small gift or talent, etc. Whatever it is, God is waiting for you to use it for his kingdom. When we step out in faith and give it away, God is faithful to use it. It may have small impact or it may bring down a giant. Either way, it will be used to advance the Kingdom of God.

For me, that small thing in my hand was “time”. As I gave it away on this trip to Africa, the Father graciously answered our prayers that we would establish like-minded partners who reside in Zambia to accomplish the task of building not just physical homes for orphans, but establishing an eternal family for these beautiful orphaned children.

So, my challenge to you is this – you know what’s in your hand; you know how to use it; GIVE IT AWAY!!