What IF I Gave All?

What If I Gave All?

There was a Christian artist popular about 10-20 years ago named Ray Boltz. His Scripturally-based music and lyrics have been a source of inspiration to me and millions of others but sadly the religious community abandoned him when he finally came out as gay about 5-7 years ago. It’s as though his message all of a sudden became untrue because of who he loved.

I don’t believe that to be the case. Regardless of how one feels about homosexuality and/or about the Christian church, the messages in his songs resonated through the soul. Songs of his included Watch The Lamb(the basic Christian story of the Sacrifice that died for our sins), Thank you for Giving to the Lord(about how many people your life touched without you even knowing it) and the one that came to mind as I tried to help the friend in crisis yesterday called “What If I Give All”

The lyrics and a link to a youtube video performance of it are below-

What If I Give All?
Words by Ray Boltz, Music by Ray Boltz and Mark Pay
He heard the preacher say
A single dime can feed
A hungry boy or girl
With nothing to eat
So he pulled a dollar
From the pocket of his jeans
And he asked his mama
How many will this feed?
She just smiled
And when she told him ten
He reached back again
CHORUS:
What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child, a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
He didn't close his eyes
Or turn away
I can see him standing tall
He saw the need
And I can hear him say
What if I give all
Three birthday dollars
Could have bought a special toy
But he reminds me
Of another little boy
Who gave to Jesus
A gift of fish and bread
I wonder if he said
CHORUS (repeat)
And long ago a Father and a Son
Saw the children lost in sin
Can you see the tears
In the Fathers eyes
As Jesus says to him
What if I gave all I have?
What will that gift do?
My Son, that gift
Will change the world
It will free the multitudes
What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
We cannot close our eyes
And turn away
When we hear His Spirit call
We see the need
Now let Him hear us say
What if I give all?
What if I give all?
1996 Shepherd Boy MusicASCAP (adm. by Word Music) and Screaming Toad MusicASCAP (adm. by Addison Music).

The song is a symbolic representation of the words of Isaiah in IS 6:8 who said “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

I think of those words as I browse the forums and groups and member pages reading the posts about the issues people are having and the cries for help that are often found. And when I think about the cries for help and wonder who will help them , the words above ring in my ears and I have to answer as Isaiah did- HERE AM I-SEND ME!.

And so I challenge you –even if you are not religiously inclined-when you hear the cry for help from someone in crisis to follow the advice in the song and Bible verse above and say “What if I Give ALL?” and Send ME .

CynthiaI