Acts 28:7-10

It is so neat to see how this “detour,” brought about by such unfortunate circumstances, brought life to others. And how do we know this detour wasn’t in the plan all along? Whether it was or it wasn’t, Paul used his time on Malta to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. The people of this little island, out in the middle of nowhere, got to see and hear the Gospel in demonstration. Even here, Paul continued to be a witness.

Isn’t that what each of us has been commissioned to do? We are all called to be witnesses and to make a difference wherever we find ourselves. This life is one we are merely passing through, but Psalm 84:6 says of those whose strength is in the Lord:

“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, 
they make it a place of springs.”

The Valley of Baca is often understood as a valley of weeping, yet those passing through it leave something behind—they make it a place of springs.

With all my travels through the years as a professional golfer, I was in a different town week after week. Often, people would open their homes to tournament players, which was always a welcome change from staying in a hotel. My mom told me once, “Make sure to leave your room better than you found it.”

That little tidbit of advice stayed with me through the years, and it is something I still purpose to do whenever I am a guest in someone’s home. Yet it is also such an appropriate approach to life. Wherever we go, we should look for ways to leave a place better than we found it.

Maybe another way to think about it is this: Do we add to or subtract from? Are we givers or takers?

Unfortunately, some people become professional “takers.” Proverbs 30:15 describes them this way:

“The leech has two suckers that cry out, ‘More, more!’”

Paul, on the other hand, lived to give. Perhaps mindful of the years he had once spent persecuting the Church, he poured out the remainder of his life for the sake of Christ and others. As he stated in Acts 20:33–35:

“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

What a wonderful way to live. Wherever God takes us—even when the destination comes by way of an unexpected detour—may we leave something good behind. May we bring encouragement where there is discouragement, hope where there is despair, healing where there is hurt, and the light of Christ wherever there is darkness.

May we be known for what we add rather than for what we subtract.