god cannot pour into hands that are already full
The title of this blog is a statement made by one of my favorite authors, Chuck Swindoll. It has profoundly influenced my life for many years.
I love shoes! I like dress shoes, boots, and sneakers. I relish summer shoes and winter shoes, casual shoes, and fancy footwear. I appreciate Johnston Murphy, Vans, Nike, Adidas, Solomon, Cole Hann, Steve Madden, and Florsheim. I often notice the shoes other men are wearing, and the observance sometimes tells a lot about them. Needless to say, my closet is brimming with footwear.
A few years ago, I read a helpful book about simplifying your life. The author suffered a similar shoe addiction, but in her quest to downsize, she decided to rid herself of footgear she did not wear and decide upon a fair number of shoes to fill her closet at any given time. She then ruled that if she was to purchase a new pair, she had to get rid of an old pair. Thus, the footwear accumulation did not take over her closet, and impulse purchases decreased. Sage advice.
What you let go of, leave behind, and rid yourself of in life and shoes is as important as what you add.
Jesus frequently spoke about this subject when he was recruiting followers. The Master offered abundant, eternal life, but he knew he could not pour blessings into hands that were already full of other things.
To the rich young ruler, he said, “If you want what you are talking about, you’re going to need to sell off a lot of your financial assets. Right now, there is no room for me.”
The Recruiter challenged his twelve apostles, “I’m asking you to leave everything, including your successful fishing, tax-collecting, and any other business interests you own. If you are not willing to do that, stay home.”
To the gal caught in adultery, he encouraged, “Okay, I just got you off the hook and taught you a valuable lesson, go home and leave your sinful life in this town square.”
To another prospect, he demanded, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You follow me.”
To tax collectors, he expected, “Let go of your greed; stop extorting money from these folks. Follow me, and you’ll discover true wealth.”
The King urged James and John, “Rid yourself of these grandiose visions so that you can become useful to me. Become a servant. I could care less about how many follow your Facebook and Instagram feeds.”
In general, the Teacher told everyone to repent, which means walking away from one way of living, turning around, and walking in the other direction. “I cannot fill hands that are already full. You must choose what you want your hands to hold. Your closet is already overflowing with something besides me.” Ouch!
I have a suggestion for the upcoming new year. If you are considering adding something new or more, equally consider what you are willing to leave behind to get it. If you keep adding things to your existence, you’ll end up replacing one problem with another one equally as annoying.
Let’s say, like millions of others, you want 2023 to be the year you got in shape. You join a gym; fitness clubs overflow in January, and you decide to work out one hour five days a week. I have two questions: Gym memberships cost money. What other expenditure will you release to make the new one a reality? “Perhaps the $25 I’m spending per week at Starbucks on fattening and expensive drinks would not only get me a gym membership but cut 2,000 calories from my diet?” Fitness takes time. What other time consumers will you forfeit to make conditioning possible? You cannot continually add more “things” to your already busy schedule without consequences. You may be fit as a fiddle by May, but your mind and spirit will be exhausted. You replaced one issue with another.
Jesus was trying to help people wisely prioritize their lives. His opinion is that pursuing a relationship with God should be one’s top priority. All others should be number two or lower! For this to happen, everyone needed to forfeit some other interest. He was very pointed about what that meant for each prospective follower and had no qualms about showing them. His comments created those “ouch” moments.
As I’ve aged, I find my most fruitful writing happens in the morning, so I can’t stay up until midnight vegging in front of the flatscreen or on my phone. I choose writing, and I’m glad, but there is always an enticing new series around the corner, so I must remain diligent. “You can’t have it both ways, Hamilton!”
I want God to be first place in my life, so before I pick up the computer, I hand myself a Bible and a prayer journal. I made this choice years ago, and I’ve never regretted it. A spirit at peace with its Maker writes more effectively, not to mention every other aspect of life.
I purchased a new pair of casual boots over the holidays, but I still have the same number of shoes in my closet, so I’m proud of myself!
It would probably be good to add a new practice in 2023. But before you do, ponder what you should leave in 2022 to get where you want to go in the new year. And if you want God’s blessings, remember, He cannot pour into hands that are already full.
Happy New Year!
Live Inspired!
Don Mark
