Having nothing to give shows itself in many ways in our lives. It begins with questioning ourselves and our worth. As a result, we start to see ourselves and the world around us negatively. As we face our own lack, hopelessness creeps its way in and we allow distance to grow between ourselves and God, and even the people closest to us. More than ever, these are the times we need a spark of hope. This is when we need a reminder that God loves us no matter what, and that He will provide something in our hearts to give.
Does God love me when I have nothing to give?
When we find ourselves questioning this, we should meditate on the thought that God loves us because of who He is, not because of what we can offer. To help you with that, read 1 John 4:19, which says, “We love because He first loved us.” God is the Creator and the starting point. He loved us when we were nothing, and He will continue loving us when we have nothing. Our worth is not defined by our contributions, it is defined by the price we were bought with.
Jesus explained our worth in Matthew 18:12 when he taught that He would leave the ninety-nine to find the one. That one wandering sheep didn’t have much to offer, but because of who God is, the one is always worth love. You are valuable because you have the spirit of life within you.
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Why do I feel empty?
We are not our own source. This is confirmed in John 15:5 where Jesus teaches us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When we find ourselves unable to give anything, we should evaluate our connection to the vine. Because we are not our own source, we will always run into days when we have nothing to give.
In verse 7, Jesus goes on to say, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” This is an invitation to stay connected with Him and if we stop maintaining that relationship through prayer and seeking, we leave our fruit behind. Verse 8 tells us it is God’s glory that you bear much fruit because it shows yourself to be followers of Jesus. When we connect to Him, we will be filled and have something to give.
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Why do I feel weak?
When you feel especially weak, remember that we are incomplete without God. When we do not have the strength, we can find it in Him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Admitting in our hearts that we are empty is not a weakness, rather, it is a strength. It acknowledges to God our position as the branch and not the vine and as a result, we are filled. Paul goes on to say in verse 9, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Many of us may see reaching out for help as a weakness. As a result, we avoid the help we desperately seek in our hearts. The thought that reaching out to God or others being a weakness could not be further from the truth. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” This scripture can be applied to outreaching to others as much as it is when you have something you need to confess. There is power in connecting with other people. Sometimes we are the sender of that, and sometimes we are the recipient.
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What role do people play in my giving?
We are made like God, so when people reach out to us for help or to listen, we naturally offer support. Just as God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), when we reach out in weakness to others, we can rely on their strengths to lift us back up. This is not to say that man is perfect or that we can find all we need from people alone. What it does say though is that people outside of your current mental state will have insights that you may need to lift you up, just as God can do. This is important for having something to give because once we get filled again, we will be in a better position to give once more.
Relationships are one of our major purposes in life. Jesus describes this in the Great Commandments found in Matthew 22:37-40. Simplified, it states to love God and to love others. We naturally gravitate toward connecting with people. Whether it is with our spouse, our children, our parents or siblings, at times we face trials with each other. If we find ourselves unable to give more in the vital relationships like these, we need a new source. Forgiveness, confession, and love will always open new doors for you or for the other person involved.
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Can sin prevent me from giving?
In Mark 2:9-12, Jesus encountered a paralyzed man. The crowd saw paralysis in the physical realm but Jesus saw the man’s heart. He needed forgiveness before he could take or give more in life. So Jesus told him “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Sometimes we need forgiveness from people and other times we need them to forgive what is hidden in our hearts before we can move again. Sin can prevent you from giving because we get stuck in guilt. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Remember that James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Confession gets us right with God and when we confess things to those we impacted, it gets us right with them as well.
In all of these things, the underlying root of being able to give anything is connecting with God. When we understand His love for us, it removes our fear to come to Him (1 John 4:18). When we come to Him, we get free and we are ready to receive. When we are good soil, He provides seed to the sower that will multiply continuously in all areas of our lives. (Matthew 13:8, 23)
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Kyle Blevins is a family man who resides just outside of Chattanooga, TN with his wife and two sons. He is in leadership for a top Fortune 500 company and is known for his empowering encouragement and bright personality. His passion is in restoring hope for people and connecting them to Jesus through writing.
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