Open Your Hand

Read |Proverbs 11:24|

Words are lovely, weighty and powerful in their capacity to shape the landscapes of our lives and that of those around us. With a word you can lift a spirit, and with the same mouth a word may be uttered that completely crushes a spirit. But, as influential as our words may be, they do not operate in isolation. A series of nonverbal cues converge to provide a context to support others in interpreting the alignment between our utterances and our heart. Our hands are great assets in providing such context. A clenched fist signals frustration, anger, a forced and fleeting constraint. Whereas, an open hand gestures invitation: an invitation to give and to receive. Proverbs 11: 24 (CSB) reads, "One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor." Here, it is clear that the blessing of addition is granted to the one who gives freely--the one who opens her hand. Whereas, the curse of subtraction hovers over the life of the one who withholds what is right to give. I will take for granted that we all desire to be counted amongst those who are increased, and to stay clear of the path that leads to poverty. So, what is it that allows for one to give freely? How can we know what is right to give? How is it, that in freely giving more is added?

John 8:32 (CSB) reads, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Free to live the blessed, more abundant and generous life we have been invited to in Jesus Christ (John 10:10). What truth is available to us to make us free to give?

1. We are free to give because we know that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1: 17, CSB). This truth illuminates the fact that we are all recipients of the generosity of our good Father. We can make no claim to being the origin of any goodness. It all comes from God. Therefore,  if this truth resides in our hearts, it is an open hand, not a clenched fist, that signals we agree with God. It is an open hand, expectant of receiving goodness that says, I believe God!
2. We are free to give freely because we know that freely we have received (Matthew 10:8). With the same measure granted to us, so are we now liberated to grant to others. The good gifts of our Father come to us, to pass through us, so that many may be blessed. We take care by opening our hand to receive and then we release, in equal measure, so that others may come to be convicted of the goodness of God.
3. We are free to give freely because we know that because He is our good Shepherd we shall lack nothing (Psalm 23:1). We will never be in want of what is needful and good. And He who gives cannot be depleted. In fact, He implores us to ask of Him with great expectation (Matthew 7: 7 - 8).

How can we know what is right to give? We know what is right to give because it is the same as what we have first received:

1. It is right to give love, for the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been gifted to us (Romans 5: 5).
2. It is right to give kindness, for Jesus Christ has been kind to us (Ephesians 4: 32).
3. It is right to give compassion, for Jesus Christ has shown great compassion to us (Ephesians 4: 32).
4. It is right to give forgiveness, for Jesus Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4: 32).
5. It is right to give comfort, for Jesus Christ comforts us in every circumstance

​          (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 5).
     6. It is right to give hope, for Jesus Christ has given us a hope that shall 
         not disappoint (Romans 5:5). 
And in all our giving, we are inviting others into the day-to-day lived experience of relationship with our most generous God and Father.

He pours in, we pour out. And with our emptying, is made room for His filling. We will never be able to place such a demand on His goodness that we are left wanting. Every extension of an open hand we make to a thirsty and hungry world, is honored by new mercies (Lamentations 3: 22 - 23).  So when we feel like there is no more to give, we will give by faith. We will let what we know to be true of our God set the standard, knowing that He will never disappoint us.

Let this prayer, in song, also be your declaration this week: