Menu

alt

What Do You Do with Left-Overs?

We have been blessed in this country with a lot.
When my boys live in the refrigerator, “Trying to find something to eat”, I don’t have much sympathy.
We have plenty.
(Until I need something to eat…)

When my husband was home, all the leftovers were eaten for lunch the next day or the next.
Now, no one eats them until I make it a “eat leftovers for dinner” meal.
Then we finish them up and have something different the next day.

Often if I wait too long, our dogs enjoy a treat.
Or if I wait too too long, it’s dumped.

What does God expect us to do with our plenty?

When the Israelites were giving for the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, they gave so much Aaron had to tell the people to stop.
Where did they get all these extra things?
Weren’t they slaves escaping Egypt?
Yes, but remember as they left, the Egyptians gave them everything just to make them leave.

Did God give them those things so they wouldn’t be poor when they retired?
No!
He was providing them every day with manna and water and the cloud.
They needed nothing.
So when time came for the need of the Tabernacle, they had those things to give.

God blesses us so we can bless others.

What about Joseph in Egypt?
He knew about the seven years of famine coming, so he saved during those years of plenty.
When the famine did come, he fed the entire world—
With left-overs.

Don’t you wonder what Jesus’s disciples did with those twelve baskets full of bread and fish after they fed 5,000 men plus women and children?
Jesus told them to gather the left-overs.
But they were out in the wilderness.
Did they eat it the next day when no miracle happened?
We aren’t told.
But I wonder.

Proverbs talks a lot about being good stewards of what we are given.
The rich man gives to the poor.

As Americans, we are a rich people.
We don’t go hungry, unless we choose.
Or are in bondage to drink or drugs.
For years, we have fed the world—with our left-overs.
We didn't suffer for it.

Jesus talks a lot about money.
Why?
It shows our heart.

Many families don’t have any left-overs when it comes to money.
After bills are paid, there isn’t anything left.
There’s no “give” in their budget for any emergency. (If they have a budget.)

When COVID put many out of work, people realized how much they depended on that next paycheck. 
Dave Ramsey’s ministry helped those people have leftovers.
His app helps budget money (designate where your money goes, not just see where it went).
He also helps people get out of debt.
Unfortunately, he’s not a magician or that rich uncle that died for you to inherit his money, you must work for it.

Many people after forced quarantine made changes to pay off debt and change how they spent, so they would have left overs.
Some choose drastic measures to get out of debt's bondage—
They moved to a smaller house.
They sold their new car and bought a cheaper car.
People found ways to cut their groceries.
(This one has been a tough one for me.)

By making that commitment to live under their means, these families are finding leftovers.

Those left-overs are used for savings for emergency funds—like unforeseen car repairs, medical needs.
Not—"I need new tires" or "Christmas is coming"—those items come from a designated budget.

Why is this important?

Without those leftovers, when emergencies strike, the problem isn’t just medical, it’s a financial burden.

But more than that—
We don't save out of fear of the future, but to prepare for the future.
I know, I've told you before, "live in the moment," "take the next step," "don't borrow tomorrow's strength for today's worries."
But that doesn't mean we use up all our resources without thought of tomorrow.
Think of it as saving our blessings.
When people have leftovers, they are able to give to others.
We save so we can give.

Proverbs speaks a lot about how the rich man is able to give to the poor.
Most charity organizations exist because rich people give generously.
We can’t give generously, when we have no leftovers.

The last two years have shown us store shelves do not stay filled when supply can’t bring them. 
The supply is there.
But not where you need them.
This happened in Russia.
They had food.
But their people were starving.

We see this in a mild way when a storm is coming.
Bread, eggs, and milk shelves are empty.
We all hunker down to stay at home.

We are not stockpiling out of fear of what they are doing.
We are collecting leftovers.

Leftovers of blessings are necessary to stock up for the lean years.
We’ve had the blessings.
Joseph was told in a vision lean years were coming.
We have it in our history.
We’ve also been shown in the Bible, when the people were given much, they gave much when it was needed.

Ask God what to do with your leftovers.
We've talked a lot about prayer.
He's answered that prayer for me.

What if you don’t have leftovers?
Evaluate your expenses.
Bear down.
Minimize.
Is everything absolutely necessary?
Maybe your priorities are not quite right.

God still answers our pitiful pleas for food for today
In a famine, Elisha stayed at the brook and was fed by ravens.
Then fed by a widow who had no oil.
God provided.
Other times, He told them to prepare ahead.
We have been warned that troubled times are ahead.
Use those left-overs for the lean years.

What can those leftover do?
With Joseph, they fed the world.
What can yours do?


Displaying 1 comment

We struggled so many times over the years and were blessed by others reaching out to us. One thing I've always wanted to be able to do more of is give to others and now that I'm married again, there is leftovers to give away. I love that feeling of being blessed by blessing others.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass

Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?

See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
alt
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained
    

Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation

Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2

Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

Receive weekly articles by giving your email address below: