Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring [it]. 3 “And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread [them] on the road.

– Mark 11:1-11 (NKJV)

Have you ever had a, “the Lord has need of it moment?”

Years ago, I was on staff at a church as an associate pastor, we were sitting in a contentious business meeting. The finances for the church weren’t where they should be. We had a building debt to pay and we had ministry to do. If we didn’t see an increase in giving we would have to cut down on ministry. It was a bleak situation to be in. The proposed solution was to ask folks to give extra this year. Whatever their annual giving was or percentage that they sought to give the church, we were asked to increase it for the coming year to help us get through a rough patch.

Our family was already giving above ten percent, (a good base line in some places). We were generous givers by the standard of percentage of income. But I thought about what an extra percent would mean to our living situation. It was approaching Christmas time and on top of the Christmas presents we were hoping to buy a new TV along with a few other things. Giving more to the church was saying “no” to the new TV and a few other things that would make our life more comfortable.

So as the conversation around us stewed in the business meeting. The Lord wrestled with my heart. Finally, I stood up and spoke my peace. I said, “I can’t speak for the rest of you, but I know as for me and my house, we will give more no matter how we all vote because there is a need and I believe in the mission and vision that God has for this church.” I knew that we’d lose out on a few creature comforts, but the reality was that all our income belonged to God already (Just like this colt really belonged to the one who designed it and brought it’s ancestors out of the clay of the earth he had just formed all those years ago).

I had another, “the Lord has need of it” moment when our church was looking for someone to host a small group in their house on Friday nights. I’m an introvert and my home is my refuge, but then I contemplated what it that God desired for us. I thought it was better to have our home filled with Christians and even a few folks who were interested in Christianity on Friday nights than it was to have time to ourselves. By “giving” the use of our house to the Lord on Friday nights, it opened of the opportunity for God to do so much more in our lives. We grew really close with some amazing families and I believe our older two children were really blessed by it.

I don’t know the backstory to everything happening in this passage, but I have learned in my own life through the experiences I’ve shared above and others that when I get a sense that, “the Lord has need of it,” I’m more blessed to put it in his hands than keep it in mine. The result of the small gesture of lending a colt to Jesus on this day had implications far greater than I’m sure the “owners” understood at the time.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Everything we have is yours. We recognize it as all a gift from your hands. Let us be those who are generous of spirit and trust you with the things you have entrusted to us. Let us lend to you whatever you would ask knowing that “when the Lord has need of it” that is where our resources need to go. Provide for our needs big and small. We thank you for your care for us. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.