The Penny Syndrome

A friend of mine has started a drive recently called the Penny Drive. What she does is that she leaves penny jars at various locations for people to drop their pennies in. She then uses this money to for various purposes such as purchasing food for the homeless. This whole drive started with the motto, a penny saved is a penny helped. When I first heard of this drive, I thought to myself, can a penny really make a difference? Then in just the last few months, my friend has collected over $500 just in pennies! She has bought many pairs of socks for the homeless, along with other essential needs for the life on the street. Who knew something as insignificant as pennies can make such a difference in our society? It's interesting to me how disregarded pennies are in our society. I mean, when a penny is dropped on the floor, most people don't even bother bending down and pick it up anymore. Recently, there has even been petitions trying to remove pennies from circulating in Canada. But to most charities, small contributions, even pennies, can make a huge difference.

The reason I'm writing about this is because I think we've all suffered from something The Daily Bread called the Penny Syndrome. It's the feeling of insignificance and worthlessness, just like a penny. Whether we feel this way because of the circumstances around us or because of the people around us, it makes us feel doubtful about ourselves and our abilities. Sometimes we simply feel like we can't do anything right, or that we are no good. This is especially pertinent in our spiritual life. I don't know about you, but I've questioned in the past how my limited gifts and talents can really make any difference in this world for God's kingdom. Then God reminded me, it's not the gifts we have that matters, it's our willingness to offer up those gifts that really matters.

We all know the story of Jesus feeding five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two small fishes. When Jesus finished teaching, He asked the disciples to feed the five thousand people that gathered around them. The only food the disciples had was those five loaves of bread and two fishes offered up by a little boy. To feed five thousand people, the gift of five loaves of bread and two fishes seem so insignificant right? I'm sure the little boy and the disciples felt silly even mentioning the gift. But Jesus used that minuscule gift and turned it into something so substantial. He fed everyone with the bread and the fish, and there were even left overs. Taking a small boy's offering and turning it into feast for five thousand people is nothing to Jesus, in fact, He probably could have fed the people without the small offering. But if the little boy didn't offer up his food, this particular miraculous story wouldn't have happened the way it did. And the little boy would have missed out on being a part of a miraculous story. The truth of the matter is, Jesus doesn't need us, but He wants to include us in His story. He wants to see us step up and offer the little that we have. He wants us to give our all to Him, then He will take our small and insignificant gifts, multiply them, and use it to impact thousands of people for His glory. 

What we need to remember is that God is not limited by our limitations. In fact, He is gloried by our limitations. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians regarding his experience with his weaknesses,

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

God knows we are not perfect, He knows all our strengths and weaknesses. Like that little boy who had very little to offer, we too have very little to give. But like the way Jesus used the little boy's offering to bless thousands of people, He too will use the little offering we have to bless the people around us. So next time you feel like what you have to offer is too minuscule to be used, remember God will use you as long as you are willing to be used. Edward Everett Hale once wrote, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can." Offering what we have to God is that something we can do, how He uses it is up to Him. The question is, are you willing to give Him all that you have?

As some of you may know, I will be heading to Haiti for my mission trip tomorrow. I have struggled for the last few weeks with doubts and fears regarding how God can use such an insignificant me on the trip. I guess you can say, I was suffering from the Penny Syndrome. Then God reminded me of this lesson of placing all I have to offer before Him, even if the offerings are very small. Then He will use them for His great purpose.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9