Withholding good.

My real struggles with generosity usually involve embarrassing things. 

Why is it I can write checks and give lots of our income away, and yet I can still remember that time when God said to give all my chocolate chip cookies to the neighbor and I practically threw a fit in protest.

What on earth?

I had another surprising incident last week. This time for a ministry that provides pillowcases, lotions, make-up and toiletries for women rescued out of human trafficking.  I searched through my bathroom and pulled out every bottle of lotion, soap and toiletry item that was unused. But then I spotted two make-up powder compacts, and hesitated.

Can you believe I actually stood there in the bathroom and held those two powder compacts and could barely bring myself to give them away?? I reasoned: Well we don’t have much money anymore. So I hate to give these away and then have to buy more. 

 Rees Howells words floated through my mind: “First need, first claim.”

Rees Howells’ life philosophy was simple. Everything belonged to God.  So when a need arose, Howells would use his resources to meet that need. He refused to have any thought of saving it for later just in case he might need it. In his mind, God would provide for every single need whenever it arose, so he could give freely to whatever situation was at hand. He would not hold back from alleviating a need if he had the capacity at that time to do it.

I stood and looked at the make-up. I had already put a lot of stuff in the bag. That was plenty, right?  

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:27

I still remember when Shawna shared this verse with me more than 12 years ago. She was attending a Bible Study and the speaker’s words had really ministered to her, encouraging her deeply. She thought about going up afterwards and sharing with the speaker, telling her what a gift she’d been in Shawna’s life. But then she hesitated. She didn’t want to be seen as flattering, and there were plenty of other people already talking to the speaker. No need to take the time and go up there, right?. But the Holy Spirit brought this verse to her mind. She sensed that she was not to withhold that encouraging, thankful word from the speaker when she had the power to go up and give it to her. In other words, if she had the gift of true, kind words, it was wrong to not share them honestly with the speaker.

What a powerful thought.

How often do I withhold some good from others? Whether it’s my un-opened make-up, warm chocolate chip cookies, or just a word of true grace-filled encouragement.

Why do we withhold good?

With our money, we know it’s because we’re afraid we won’t have enough. And sometimes it’s harder to give away stuff than it is money. The reason we love money is because we love stuff. As I stood there staring at these two ridiculous make-up compacts, I had to ask: Do I think that God can’t give me more powder? Good grief! Besides, I dare say the dear girl being rescued from SLAVERY deserves to be pampered more than me for crying out loud!  I had to shake my head at myself.

 But why do withhold other types of good? Love? Kind words? Compliments and affirmation? Encouragement and praise? Are we afraid that if we build others up then we’re somehow less? Is there not enough of God’s love and favor to abound to us all? There is. There absolutely is. We certainly don’t want to give people flattery or say things that are untrue, but when we have genuine words of encouragement for others, I believe we amiss when we withhold that good and do not share.

What is the “good” that you can either give or withhold today? Sometimes practical? Stuff? Money? Words of encouragement? A compliment? Kindness? I pray we would be generous today and give wherever there is a need, not withholding good from those to whom it is due. Bless you, and thank you so much for reading!