My brother was just 6 years old when he threw my bag across the room. It was a bag with my name printed on it in red capital letters. Although his matchbox car case fit in it perfectly, it was a bag he did not intend to carry because it was mine. The cars were HIS. My brother treasured his matchbox cars and wanted to bring them proudly into school for everyone to see. He did not want them hidden in some canvas red bag with his sister’s name on it. He could carry the standard blue matchbox case by the yellow plastic handle and show off his cars and display them proudly. He wasn’t going to allow his prized possessions to be covered up by his sister’s fancy bag.
I think about this when I am tempted to carry someone’s else’s bag. Unlike my brother, I have seen more value in someone else’s “bag” than what the Lord has gifted me. I am guilty of hiding my value in someone else’s designer bag. Although that bag may appear to be a perfect fit, it is deceiving – all it really does is hide what the Lord has put a handle on.
I’ve had my share of fancy/designer bags in my lifetime. I’ve not only hidden my talents and treasures in these bags. I’ve collected my faults, my sins, the sins of others. But I have also learned through one simple verse that various things in these bags hold no value if they are merely stored, zipped up tightly and simply carried. Jesus says in Mark 4:22 and again in Luke 8:17 “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is brought into the open.”
I’d like to encourage you to open up your bags with me…unpack them…use the stuff inside. Your gifts and talents are not meant to be stored away. Bring them into the light. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another…”
Sin is not meant to be hidden either. We are encouraged in James 5:16 to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other so that we may be healed. We cannot be healed if we continue to store away our sins in some fancy designer bag. The sins of yesterday are not meant to be carried into today. Toss that fancy bag aside! Carry your own case proudly! Let His Word be the handle you hold onto as you display the freedom the Lord has given you!
