“All I Have…”
This past Sabbath we heard from Brother Caleb about "All I have..." That phrase is often used as an excuse in our lives. People judge us and we judge ourselves based on who we are and what we have to offer.
The story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) is a good example of how others may judge us. King Saul viewed David as a young, untrained boy. Goliath was raised to be a warrior, and David a shepherd. Goliath called out David for his weaknesses. People often become too focused on physical attributes. David didn't let any of that distract him. Standing before Goliath, he proudly proclaimed that all he had was Yahweh on his side!
The words "only" and "just" are often paired with "all I have" when it comes to making excuses. "I only have a little bit of money so I can't give Yahweh my tithes." "I just have too much to do so I can't read the Bible or spend time with Yah." Those words and phrases can become a virus in your life. They can and will fester and grow until the world drags you back down. "All I have is not enough."
Someone in the Bible who loved making excuses was Moses. Examples of this are Exodus 3:11 and Exodus 4:10. Moses was literally called by Yahweh to lead His people out of Egypt but all Moses can focus on are his flaws and his past. In short, Moses says "All I have is a stutter and bad reputation." On the opposite end, is Paul. Paul, because of his past mistakes and sins, had every right to shy away from preaching the gospel. Instead, he charges head first into starting churches, teaching others and living for Yahweh. Paul wasn't even asked to do any of that. Yahweh doesn't care what you have or who you were, only what you're willing to do.
Finally, we get to John 3:16. This may be the most well-known verse in the Bible, but take note of the word "only." Unlike other excuses that come with this word, this time it means all. Yahweh gave us his ONLY Son, all that he had. Yahweh doesn't do anything because we deserve it or because we're somehow better than other people. He gives us all because He loves us. As we move into the Feast and Passover, remember Yahshua's sacrifice. He was judged, condemned, rejected, betrayed, abused, beaten and crucified for us. That is the very definition of "All I have." That phrase is not an excuse for us to use whenever we feel like, but rather a reminder of His promises to us.
