Published 10/22/19
By Greg Johnson
What If...
Saturdays usually provide you with a few good choices of things to do: relax, do chores, spend time with the family. Most of the time you end up doing all three. This week, you’re faced with two different choices.
On Wednesday you get a call from the head of the deacon board. He says that since it’s the holidays, there is an unusual number of families who need food. He asks if you’d mind delivering food to about a dozen homes from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Checking your calendar, you see it’s a clear day. “Sure, I’ll be glad to do it.”
Friday at work, the boss comes up and says that a couple of employees have had some health problems and he could sure use a hand on Saturday. He says he’ll pay you time and a half for the day since it’ll be overtime. He doesn’t make it an order, but he knows you could use the money. He’d like you to do it because you’re one of his best workers.
You tell him you’ll check your calendar and see what you have scheduled. When you check, you remember that you agreed to deliver food baskets for the church.
You’re in a real dilemma. You said you’d help out, but you know your boss wants you to work (and you could use the money).
Questions to Think On
• What would you do?
• It’s tempting to make a choice based on how it will benefit you. Why is this not always the best idea?
• How important to you is keeping your word?
• Has God ever “paid you back” for some bit of kindness you’ve done for others in his name?
What Does God Have to Say?
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
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