Have you ever experienced a similar scene in your house? Our girls were playing quietly together while I folded laundry when I heard …
“It’s mine!”
“No, it’s mine!”
“No. It’s. Mine!”
“MOM!”
If you are a parent, you’ve refereed this kind of spat many times, and hopefully used it as a teaching moment about sharing with a playmate. As a child, you were likely one of the major characters in this little drama, whether the scene played out with a sibling or a friend. Learning how to share is one of the foundational lessons each of us needs to conquer to get along with others.
Sharing is a hard thing for kids to do … and for adults, if we are honest with ourselves. That “selfishness” gene seems to be pretty dominant in the human makeup. Selfishness is linked with fear – fear of not having enough, fear of losing out, fear of being left behind, fear of not being loved, you name it.
Yet one of the most common phrases in the Bible is, “Don’t be afraid.”
We are reminded in 1 John 4:18 that God’s perfect love casts out all fear. When we are unafraid, we are free to share.
Earlier in Hebrews chapter 13, the author warns us not to neglect to show hospitality to strangers because we may be in the midst of a holy encounter. Now, near the end of the chapter, this warning is expanded beyond simple hospitality. We are to actively do good and share what we have.
Holy encounters can happen when we share a meal with others, our time with a stressed parent, our expertise with a struggling coworker, or our money with a cause that brings justice and expands God’s kingdom on Earth.
Lean into God’s perfect love and don’t be afraid to share!
Prayer
Prayer project:
- Name a fear that leads you to be afraid of sharing.
- Now ask God to show you how that fear limits the abundant life he wants for you.
- Ask God’s perfect love to cast out your fear.