by guest blogger Danielle Sorrells
Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
I would definitely not call myself a hoarder… but am I?
In Genesis chapter 8, we find Noah and his family leaving the Ark for the first time since the flood waters have subsided. God tells Noah, his family, and the animals, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth”. And the first thing Noah does is build an altar and make a sacrifice to the Lord. Now we know from chapter 7 that Noah brought seven pairs of clean animals and seven pairs of birds onto the ark. So essentially, God has tasked Noah, his family, and these fourteen of each kind of clean animal to repopulate the entire earth… and Noah and his family still must eat something.
I don’t know about you, but I would immediately go into a scarcity mindset. Carefully calculating how much we must stretch the food we have and the animals that are good to eat to last us until we can at least reap a first harvest.
But we don’t see Noah sitting down and doing calculations.
We don’t see Noah giving a list of rations to his family. No, we see Noah sacrificing not one, but SOME of EACH clean animal and bird to the Lord. We do not hear any concern from Noah about whether the Lord will provide. He trusts that God will ensure he and his family are taken care of.
This brings to my mind James chapter 5, where we read James warning the rich about the trappings of wealth. In verse 3, James advises against hoarding riches. It’s very easy to read this passage and think, “well, I’m not hoarding anything.”
Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. James 5:3
When we think of hoarding, we think of when we have an overabundance of something we have stored away for emergencies or a surplus of something we are keeping for ourselves.
But what about when it’s not abundant? What if it’s not a surplus of something? What if it is just enough, or maybe even barely enough?
Would we consider Noah a hoarder if he carefully watched after these fourteen of each kind of animal? If he kept his hands so tightly around them to make sure nothing happened so they could do as the Lord wanted… to repopulate and feed Noah’s family? Probably not. We would think he was wise… like we often think of ourselves.
What are we doing with our resources?
Not just the ones we have an abundance of. What about our money? Many of us live paycheck to paycheck and pray for God to fill in the gaps… but are we living with our hands open? Or are we holding so tightly to what we have that we are afraid to make a sacrifice on the altar to God?
How about our time? We only have 24 hours in a day, and for many of us, that is NOT ENOUGH. But are we hoarding our time? Holding so tightly to our own plans that we make no room for the Holy Spirit to work?
We can ask this question in every area of our life. Are we stewarding the gifts of God well? Are we giving freely, generously, and trusting God to provide for us? Or are we leaning on our own management skills?
God, may we live with open hands. May we freely receive your blessings and freely share them with others.
May our hearts truly believe that YOU provide!
About Danielle:
Danielle is a stay-at-home homeschooling mother of 4 children. She has a passion for women, and youth and sharing her faith. Danielle was born in Central Florida, where she came to know the love and redemption of Jesus Christ in the 5th grade. Since then, her heart has always been centered around serving others in various ways. Currently, Danielle serves in her church’s Youth and Women’s ministry. Danielle can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/beloved_gvl/
Anne Farnum 
I really enjoyed this, Anne.
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