Giving Leftovers
November 6, 2013//
Topics to Dig Into
Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
And the King will
say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers and sisters you were doing it to me!’
say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers and sisters you were doing it to me!’
I had what I call an ‘ah-ha’
moment yesterday. You may have seen the
light bulb blinking over my head.
As I closed my vegetable garden this week, I harvested a bunch of kale
for the food cupboard. My kale
production this year was plentiful and I’m frankly tired of finding ways to use
it or give it away. I was relieved to be
rid of a huge bag I didn’t have to wash and cook.
moment yesterday. You may have seen the
light bulb blinking over my head.
As I closed my vegetable garden this week, I harvested a bunch of kale
for the food cupboard. My kale
production this year was plentiful and I’m frankly tired of finding ways to use
it or give it away. I was relieved to be
rid of a huge bag I didn’t have to wash and cook.
That is all wrong –
completely backwards!
completely backwards!
I should have been
stripping my garden every other week for the food cupboard instead of giving
them the leftovers. Within 3 or 4 days
my garden would have produced more and I may have actually enjoyed a few days
without kale (and zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes…). My giving was convenient,
not generous.
stripping my garden every other week for the food cupboard instead of giving
them the leftovers. Within 3 or 4 days
my garden would have produced more and I may have actually enjoyed a few days
without kale (and zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes…). My giving was convenient,
not generous.
Interestingly, others jump
to rationalize my actions: “You’re
feeding a family.” “You don’t want to
run out.” Why are we touched by self-sacrificing
acts of kindness we hear about on the internet but hesitant to encourage such
radical gestures? Why, when a friend feels
called to give sacrificially, do we point out the logic against it? I’m talking about vegetables, not a kidney.
to rationalize my actions: “You’re
feeding a family.” “You don’t want to
run out.” Why are we touched by self-sacrificing
acts of kindness we hear about on the internet but hesitant to encourage such
radical gestures? Why, when a friend feels
called to give sacrificially, do we point out the logic against it? I’m talking about vegetables, not a kidney.
Jesus calls us to a
generosity that doesn’t make sense in this world economy. I gave Jesus leftovers.
generosity that doesn’t make sense in this world economy. I gave Jesus leftovers.
Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
