What is That in Your Hand?

2nd Corinthians chapter 8 communicates the principle that we are to abound in good works, as the Lord enables us:
7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.  (this refers to participating in ministry to Macedonia)He goes on to say:  8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.


Think with me:  the Corinthians were being challenged to devote their resources - spiritual and physical to another group of people, recognizing that Jesus gave His all, laying down His life, so that we might become partakers of spiritual riches in Him - and out of our blessings, the gifts He has given us, He is calling us to surrender to Him so that He might enrich other lives.   He enables us by His Spirit to bring Him glory!

Here's a story from the book of Exodus 4 as the Lord was reinforcing His call on the life of Moses:
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. 3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has appeared to you."   This...is so that they may believe - the Lord used a meager staff to demonstrate a powerful truth, that we can apply to our own lives.
There has been quite a bit of attention paid to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, as he has dropped out of the top 40 - that would be the Bloomberg Billionaires Index - he has now fallen to #41 on the daily, yes daily, scale that tracks the wealth of the world's richest people.   At #1, by the way, it's Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helu, followed by Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Ingvar Kamprad of Sweden, and Amancio Ortega Gaona of Spain.   
Just for fun, I thought I'd cross-reference the Bloomberg index with the Chronicle of Philanthropy's listing of top givers - it's called the Philanthropy 50, tracking the top 50 most generous Americans.   There are 17 Americans in the Bloomberg index, and 4 of them show up on the Chronicle's rankings.   The #1 donor died in 2006, but her family's fortune continues to be involved in charitable work - that would be Margaret A. Cargill of the foundation that bears her name.   
So, it's about a 25-30% overlap between the two lists.   Should it be?   Perhaps...because I believe that God gives us resources - financial and otherwise - that are to be used to serve others and to glorify Him.  If He is the owner of everything, then we recognize that our finances and material possessions are in His hands, and we can develop, by His Spirit, an attitude of generosity.
But, there are other resources - talents, that can be used of God.   And, if God has placed in us certain desires that can be used for His glory, certain passions, then He can develop those and provide opportunities to use those, as well.    Gregg Hunter, for instance, came to Christ at a summer camp, it changed his life, and he is using that passion for Christian camping to head a large organization that serves Christian camps and those who wish to attend.    Tim Hawkins was given gifts of story-telling and humor, and he uses those to inspire and entertain large crowds all across the country, including Dothan on June 1st.   
So what is that in your hand?   What's in your heart?   As we recognize that we belong to Christ, that He lives in our hearts if we are saved, then we surrender our resources for the sake of His Kingdom, so that we might be used in the way that He would intend so that He might be glorified.