What Do You Have?

Dear Diary,

#What_Do_You_Have?

What do I have? You know there are days I have nothing to meet my need…, and other times I boast about what I have! More so, there are days I fret because I don’t have what my peers/friends have. But what can I have that I haven’t received?

In several Bible narratives, I see different people being asked, “What do you have?” Though in different contexts, from their responses I recognize their faith, obedience, heartfelt gratitude and humility. For instance, in Exodus 4:2, God asks Moses, “What do you have in your hand? Moses had only a walking stick that God used to perform a miracle. In 2 Kings 4:2, Elisha asked the widow whose husband had died leaving her a load of debt, “What do you have in your house?” She only had a small jar of olive oil which God used to send an overflowing miracle of oil, enough to pay her creditors and sustain her family. In 1 Samuel 21:3, in distress David fled from Saul to the tabernacle of God, he asked Ahimelech the priest, “What do you have in your hand? Only the consecrated-bread was available which Ahimelech the Priest gave David to eat provided he was ‘clean’.

What do you have? Now, before boasting about the temporal things you have consider the following: Jeremiah 9:23-24, if you MUST boast, let it not be because of your wisdom, might and/or riches but boast because you know and understand God who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness on earth. 1 Corinthians 4:7, before you boast ask yourself, “What do I have that I have not received from God?” If you have received from God why boast? Proverbs 25:14, like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Galatians 6:14, if you MUST boast let it be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:17, if you MUST boast, boast of the Lord. Before you boast, remember that your sufficiency/competence comes from God not from temporal things. 2 Corinthians 3:21, never boast of men but let your soul make its boast in the Lord, Psalm 34:2.

When you have nothing, it’s easy to feel like a failure or a looser especially when your friends/peers boast about what they have. It’s easy to beat yourself because you don’t have what your friends/peers have. It easy to fret. It’s easy to lash at God for not lavishing you with all that you’re currently and temporarily lacking. But here’s God’s message for you who is almost fretting. Acknowledge that it’s only God who can give perfect gifts in due time. Secondly, if you MUST boast, let it be in the Lord, in His steadfast love, justice, righteousness; in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Never boast in temporal things which have no eternal value. Never boast of men. Never boast in your wisdom, might and/or riches but let your soul make its boast in the Lord. Finally, learn to be content with what you have knowing that God will never leave nor forsake you, Hebrews 13:5. And this is for you, you who are fond of boasting about what you have, “What do you have that you haven’t received from God?” Proverbs 25:14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” Be humble and grateful to God that He has graciously given you that which you have.

Yours faithful scribbler,

NzakuNashipae