A group of Christians in a small town decided to give boxes of food to needy families. Hams were donated by a local store and other groceries were purchased. Since there was enough food to fill ten large boxes, ten local families were selected to receive them. The boxes would provide the best meal many of them had enjoyed in months!
As the people began picking up their gift boxes, another family unexpectedly arrived. Dad, mom and three kids, in tattered clothing, got out of an old, rusty pickup and came up to the building. They had heard about the free food boxes, and being quite poor, wondered if they too might have a box.
Those who had made up and given away the ten boxes sadly explained to the eleventh family that they had nothing left to give them. Overhearing this, one woman, who had received a gift, put her box down. Then, finding an empty box, she began removing items from her box and placing them in the empty box. Seeing this, the others who had also received boxes began doing the same. It was not long before the eleventh family also had a box full of food!
In Matthew 10:88Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8) the Lord Jesus told His disciples: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Every good thing we have has been given to us by our Father (James 1:1717Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)). We who were so very poor (2 Cor. 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)) have been made very rich by our Lord Jesus, and it should be our joy to give to others (2 Cor. 8:1414But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: (2 Corinthians 8:14)). “God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:77Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)).
Ed.