Two Hands...

Hands...4-9-25

Billy Graham was once quoted stating, "God has given us two hands--one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." How true this statement is. In the Bible, God reminds us over and over to give, help, assist, and be willing to work. Our hands are His instruments.

Psalm 90:17 states, "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" Proverbs 12:14, "From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him." Collosians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" and I Thessalonians 4:11-12, "And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." These are just a few scriptures that remind us to work with our hands, with our hearts and work for God and not to please others. We are reminded that by doing good works, we are pleasing God.

I was privileged to witness to a group of women on a Thursday a couple of weeks ago. No, the meeting was not originally for that purpose, but God provided that time for me to share a portion of my testimony through the questions asked. One of the women asked me what I did to handle the stress. I told her simply this: "I pray! I pray all the time. I prayed before I came in here. I pray in the morning before I start work. I pray throughout the day. I pray in every situation for God's guidance." You may ask what this has to do with the work of our hands and hoarding. When we are given opportunities to share with others God's goodness and mercy, as well as His provisions, seize that opportunity. Take advantage of not only your abundance in material possessions but in His blessings.

I have a friend who told me once that we have two hands. On one hand (the right) put what we can do something about right now, and in the other hand, we place what we can't. Categorize and put things into one of those two hands. When I can't do anything (materially or physically), the situation goes into the other hand, and I pray. I am giving my hands in prayer just as much as I am giving materially or physically when I do this. Many people think that they don't have anything to give. You do. You have prayer. You have intercession with God on someone's behalf. You can go to the feet of Jesus for them. Sometimes, that is the one thing that is needed the most.