What Do You Have?

When you know who you are and what you are able to do, what you have in your hand at the moment has much less significance as how it will be used. Several years ago, there was a tv show about a character called MacGyver who was always in precarious situations with apparently nothing to get him out. It was always fascinating to see how he would take whatever was available and use it to resolve his predicament. What anyone else would have seen as hopelessly nothing, he would utilize as a valuable resource to overcome whatever he was up against. His awareness of his identity and abilities kept him from despairing, no matter how perilous things seemed to be.

There was a similar perspective that was necessary among the farmers where I grew up in Eastern Colorado. “They could fix anything with some bailing wire and duct tape” was a phrase that summed up an attitude, if not reality. So often there were limited resources in remote areas that required looking differently at what was in their hand at the moment. Many devastating situations were averted by seeing whatever was available as an invaluable solution in their resourceful hands.

One of the greatest illusions we often have is that whatever is in our hand is of no use against the situation we face. If this perspective would have persisted, Israel would have remained enslaved in Egypt, Goliath would have continued his boasting, the widow and her child would have starved, and the farmer would have eaten what could have produced a harvest. Where there is understanding of our God, though, and the promises that are already ours in Him, the otherwise insignificant thing in your hand can become a powerful resource for change. Rather than considering it to be nothing and leaving it motionless, there is an incredible opportunity to discover just how powerful and effective it can be when submitted to the will of the Master. He has given us gifts and resources that if cared for and committed to His direction, will be way more than enough. He will take the rod, the stones, and the seed and turn it into deliverance, a triumph and a harvest when it is seen as so much more than nothing in our hand.

Notes

The degree to which you value what you have determines its ability to produce.

Matthew 25:27-29 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

The common part of our daily life is what God will use most

Exodus 4:2 2 So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, "A rod."

God’s confirmation defies all other perspectives

Numbers 17:8 8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.

God’s perspective is not limited by ours

1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

What is respected in the world is abhorred in God’s sight.

Luke 16:15 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

In Christ our perspective is freed from human limitations

2 Corinthians 5:16 16 So then, from now on, we have a new perspective that refuses to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see him with limited human insight.

Valuing too highly what you already think you have disables a greater worth (rich ruler)

Romans 12:3-4 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Enhanced worth in body

1 Corinthians 12:13-27 13 For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit. 14 In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one. 15 So if the foot were to say, “Since I’m not a hand, I’m not a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body. 16 And if the ear were to say, “Since I’m not an eye, I’m not really a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body. 17 Think of it this way. If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds? And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances? 18 But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires. 19 A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all! 20 So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body. 21 It would be wrong for the eye to say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” and equally wrong if the head said to the foot, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, the weaker our parts, the more vital and essential they are. 23 The body parts we think are less honorable we treat with greater respect. And the body parts that need to be covered in public we treat with propriety and clothe them. 24 But some of our body parts don’t require as much attention. Instead, God has mingled the body parts together, giving greater honor to the “lesser” members who lacked it. 25 He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. 26 In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices. 27 You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.

A father said to his daughter “You have graduated with honors, here is a Jeep I bought many years ago. It is pretty old now. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it.” The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because the said it looks pretty worn out.” The father said, now “Take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said, ”The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old Jeep.” The father asked his daughter to go to a Jeep club now and show them the Jeep. The daughter then took the Jeep to the club, returned and told her father,” Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because “it's an iconic Jeep and sought by many collectors.” Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way,” If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you…...Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.

What we do with what we have decides how much more we will get to care for.

Luke 16:10 10 “The one who manages the little he has been given with faithfulness and integrity will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more.

Overview:

How much your value what God has placed in your hand determines its ability to produce.
God sees way past the outward limitations, despising what is highly esteemed by men’s outward assessment.
That thing that is so common to us is exactly what God will use for His glory.
God’s validation of our commitment will defy all other perspectives.
In Christ there is deliverance from human perspective limitations.
Now our identity and ability come from our place in the body of Christ.
We keep pressing to fulfill what is uniquely ours in His body.

Prayer:

Father, help me to recognize and honor those things in my hand that You would utilize for Your glory. Free me from any human limitations on how they are seen and empower me as I press towards their fulfillment for Your glory.

Declarations:

I have been born again into new life in Christ that has incredible gifts and purpose from my Father.
As I live and walk in this spirit life, I am freed from the limits of human perspectives.
Fulfilling my part in Christ’s body is dependent upon those I am joined with there.
I commit even the smallest of things to kingdom service with excellence for the glory of God.