Sharing is Fundamental

It was little Emma’s first day at Kindergarten. Upon returning home her Mom asked, “How did you like school?”

“I hated it!” Emma exclaimed.

“Why?” Asked her Mom. “What happened?”

With a disgusted look on her face, and her arms crossed, she retorted, “All I heard all day was “Share! Share! Share!”

We all know little kids have to be taught to share. However, as we grow older, and develop more awareness of others and a greater appreciation for the source of our blessings, sharing should become more natural. More responsive.

Sharing is definitely fundamental to our faith. It is at the essence of being Christ’s Disciple. Consider these Bible passages.

“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Gal. 6:6).

“From {Christ} the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph. 4:16)

“Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share (1 Tim. 6:18).

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16).

“It is a well-known fact that love and sharing are inseparable,” observed Gary Henry in his Daybook “More Enthusiastic Ideas. “Love always wants to share, and sharing, in its highest form, is always an act of love.”

There are so many ways in which we can share with others. Consider these three.

#1 Sharing our Resources.

This may be the most obvious. The Bible teaches one of the reasons why we work is to help those who are in need (Eph. 4:28). Giving to the poor, the less fortunate, those struck by unexpected tragedy, and many charitable organizations who do good, are opportunities for us to share.

The apostle Paul offers this reminder and exhortation in Galatians 6:9-10).

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

The 16th century Dutch theologian was spot on when he wrote, “There is no joy in possession without sharing.”

#2 Sharing our Time.

In a busy, rush-rush world, one of the kindest actions we can take, is to give others the gift of our time. Benjamin Franklin was right, “Time is…the stuff life is made of.” So, when we share our time with others, we are sharing a piece of our life.

When shared in the spirit of care, concern, and compassion, we are sharing our heart. We are applying both the Golden Rule and the Second Great Commandment. We are demonstrating 1 Corinthians 13 type of love that “looks for a way of being constructive.” Of edifying others. Of offering encouragement. And of bearing one another’s burdens.

Indeed, as Stephen S. Wise, opined, “An unshared life is not living.”

#3 Sharing Our Faith.

There is no greater joy, no deeper satisfaction, no closer connection and no more enduring reward than sharing your faith with others.

Over the years, brothers and sisters have asked me to teach the gospel to a friend they’ve been studying with. I recall those occasions when their friend was ready to accept Jesus as their savior and say, “I want to be baptized,” the expression of joy on the brother or sister’s face. Almost always, tears of joy are shed as they see their friend obey the gospel.

Faith is meant to be shared, not buried in our Bibles, or shut up in church buildings, or hidden in our hearts.

Failing to share has dangerous consequences. In Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats at the judgment day, those who neglected to share their time, resources, and heart-felt concern “with the least of these” were condemned and banished from the Lord’s eternal presence (Matt. 25:31-46).

The words of Brian Tracy ring true. “Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman