If one day you were approached by someone who said that from now on he would take care of all of your needs -clothes, food, house payments, vehicle repairs, etc. - how would you react? There wouldn't be thing that you would ever need. You would never have another need for a single penny; nothing would be lacking.

And then, on top of this, this person says that they're going to give you a million dollars to be given away in increments of 10,000. You keep none of it; there's no need for you to. You aren't lacking for anything and never will again. You would never need this money. So, who would you give it to?

I'd probably first go to my family and give them each the sum allotted. And then to my friends. Next my acquaintances, and then,.... who? Probably those that I would just meet and have a few minutes to be friendly with. The stipulation is that the money has to be given away personally, and it has to be done. You'd have to look hard to continue choosing who to give it to.

What would the reaction of others be - especially the strangers - when you just suddenly offer them $10,000? How would you lead up to it? How would you convince them it's a good thing that's free with no strings attached? How would you go about it?

This analogy came to mind the other day while thinking of evangelism of our faith. Do we really believe it's a good thing worth giving away? Are we really sure we already have enough for ourselves that we're not afraid to give more away?

I think that's what's intended with giving out of the abundance of what we have in Christ. For many years I wondered what exactly Peter had that he knew he could give away when he said, "Silver and gold I have not, but what I have I give you." He was giving from his abundance.