Small Gifts May Be Great Blessings
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
Small Gifts May Be Great Blessings
By Michael E. Brooks
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a
cup of cold water in the name of a disciple,
assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose
his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
Several years ago I was with a group working in
the western jungles of Guyana among villages of
Native Americans (called "Amer-Indians" there). It
was June, in the tropics (you spell that "H-O-T"),
and we were staying in a lodge about 3 miles from
where we were conducting our campaign. There were
no vehicles available there, so we walked back and
forth 2 or 3 times daily. There was no electricity
in the village, thus no refrigeration. Nor were
there stores where bottled water could be
purchased. We could buy water or cold drinks about
half-way to our destination, but it was difficult
to carry enough to last us longer than the trip
in. This meant that we spent most of our "working
time" in the village very thirsty. That is when I
learned to appreciate the taste of the "water"
from a green coconut. In tropical regions more
coconuts are consumed green than ripe. They
provide a generous serving of cool, slightly
sweet, juice that is very refreshing, especially
to a hot, thirsty traveler. The people we visited
would often offer us a "coconut water" and it was
always received with eagerness and gratitude.
When Jesus commended those who gave only so much
as a "cup of cold water" he was not teaching that
we can get by with giving little or nothing. In
ancient Israel, as in modern Guyana, cool water
was a treasured thing, of great value to the
thirsty and not always readily available. No, it
is not expensive, and it is not rare or luxurious,
but it is a gift worth giving and a thing much
needed. Jesus' praise of this gift reminds us that
one does not have to do a "great" thing to do
something important. Often we best help and serve
others by doing simple, everyday acts of kindness
and compassion. That is what they really need.
That is what they appreciate.
There was a time when children would take their
teacher an apple or a flower from home as a
gesture of appreciation. Perhaps both the flowers
and the appreciation are lacking from too many
homes today. As followers of Christ we need to
relearn the technique of the ordinary gift. In
Matthew 10 Jesus spoke of "receiving you",
"receiving a prophet", and "receiving a righteous
man". In each case he is referring to practicing
hospitality. Even if that hospitality does not
involve a fancy meal or special lodging, it will
produce blessings for both the giver and the
recipient. In fact, he states that the blessing
enjoyed by the host will be at least equal to that
appreciated by his guest. "He who receives a
righteous man…shall receive a righteous man's
reward" (Matthew 10:41).
Applications of this principle are many. Food to
the hungry, clothing to those in need, small
chores done for the sick, aged or weak – all these
things and many others are ways in which we may
bring blessings to ourselves and to the people
around us. Look for opportunities to serve, for
people in need of a cup of water. Then give it to
them.
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