Let Us Live to Give!

“They took his clothes” (John 19:23). It seems that God, in His foreknowledge, was determined to leave Jesus with nothing as He finished the work on the cross. Jesus’ clothes were His last physical possessions upon the earth. As was customary, the soldiers received those for themselves.

Paul said, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus completely emptied Himself of all earthly riches and glory in order to pay the full price for our redemption. How opposite His attitude was from that of a world that struggles to amass wealth and fortune!

Let us live to give. In the short time that we are on earth, let us use our worldly possessions as tools to reach the lost. At the moment of death, we will discard all earthly goods as an animal shedding a worn-out skin. Let us take a fresh look at our possessions and ask how they can serve to further the gospel before God calls us to glory!