Do you live your life with open hands before the Lord? Living with open hands is a posture that conveys to God – and reminds us – that we are surrendered to Him. That surrender is the essence of living successful earthly lives for the Lord. Paul reminds us, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. (NIV – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
The worries and stresses of life can sometimes cause us to try to hold on to what we have, tangible and intangible. Rocky finances may cause us to tightly grip a once generous wallet. Comparison may cause us to boldly hold on to the glamorous possessions or people in our lives. Insecurity may cause us to flaunt or overwork the talents God has given us in an attempt to earn His love. However, holding tightly to anything we have is counter-productive because the ways of God are counter-intuitive. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (NKJV – Matthew 16:25). The tighter we hold, the further we pull away from God. The more we release to God, the more we are blessed. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV – Luke 6:38).
I am reminded of a story once told by a pastor. He spoke of his sweet young daughter whom he had taken on errands with him one Saturday. Waiting at the store checkout, his daughter longingly glanced over the candy rack. The pastor wanted to bless his child, so he told her to pick out a candy item. She chose Skittles, and held tightly to the pack while she skipped back to the car with her father. Driving home, the little girl poured the Skittles into her hands and ate them one by one. Her father looked on lovingly, happy that his little girl was enjoying her treat. He then reached out his hand and said ‘Can I have one of those?’ The jovial little girl’s countenance changed, and she quickly clenched her fists around her treat and pulled her hands away. A brief lesson on sharing ensued; but the story told to the congregation held a deeper meaning than a little child could understand: Without her father’s desire to bless her and his sovereign provision, the little girl would have no Skittles. As God’s children, we must analyze our ‘clenched fist’ responses and learn to live in a position of surrender to our Father.
God’s hands are open toward us. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (NKJV – James 1:17). Our consistent God is always good and always giving. He only holds things back when doing so is for our good. God, in His sovereignty, is guiding our lives. We, in our surrender, are most useful for Him with our hands open – ready to receive from Him and ready to give whatever He is asking of us.
Job is a great example of someone who understood God and did not hold tightly to the things that he had. In a matter of days, Job lost his possessions, his livelihood, his children, and his health. But his response is amazing, The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. (NKJV – Job 1:21). Job praised God, with open hands, through the worst time of his life. With those same open hands, Job sat before the Lord, spoke with Him, and received again blessings and restoration from God.
Do we live our lives with open hands before the Lord? May we, along with Paul, freshly declare – I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV – Galatians 2:20). Open your hands to God today…and never close them!
