Jesus was a Freecycler

May 22, 2012Heal from the past, Kingdom Uncaged

Freecycling is a movement and a network where people freely offer the things they no longer use in order to bless someone who may need to use it. Someone may need a rabbit hutch, and someone else might have a rabbit hutch hanging around gathering dust. The beauty of freecycling is the matching of the two. And joy. The person giving the hutch is glad to no longer have it, and the person receiving is happy to use it (as is the bunny involved.)

Reminds me of this Scripture:

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47, NLT).

In this case we see believers in Jesus as freecyclers, but  how was Jesus a freecycler?

He received from others: He had no place to lay his head, and relied on the hospitality of others to find sleeping places. He ate with folks who invited him over (or He invited himself as in the case of Zaccheus). And He used a borrowed donkey to enter Jerusalem in his heyday. It’s amazing to think that the God of the Universe, Jesus, humbled Himself to receive.

He gave freely to others: He multiplied fish and loaves into a feast. He exemplified His words, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8, NIV). He healed people. Raised some from the dead. Delivered others from demonic power. He had all the power to heal and deliver, and He exercised that.

So if we could make the argument that Jesus was a freecycler, how can we exemplify Him? Ask yourself these questions:

  1. What have I been given that I could give away?
  2. What do I no longer need that would bless someone else?
  3. What sort of hold does stuff have on me? Why am I willing or unwilling to part with stuff?
  4. Since I’ve been given so much by Jesus, how can I offer hope and healing to others?
  5. When am I not a good receiver? What needs to be humbled in my life to become a good recipient?

 

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