August 10 - Freely Give

Luke 6:30 - "Give to everyone who asks you...."

     These are words of Jesus, put into a context of other phrases which describe someone taking your possessions and not returning them.  This is basically someone taking advantage of you.  The phrase above, however, is very simple, and it is a command.  Let me share a story of something that happened to me recently.
     I was entering Wendy's fast food restaurant, when a man hollered at me from his car.  After he caught my attention, he approached me and asked if I could buy him something to eat.  After a hesitant affirmation, I noticed that another man exited this man's car and walked toward the restaurant.  I was then wondering if I was going to buy this man something to eat as well.  As we were all in the restaurant in line, the first man then said he had to go back to his car for something.  I then closely watched the 2nd man order some food for himself and pay for it with cash he pulled from his pocket.  I managed to see him re-pocket a bill that was not a $1 bill.  He got his food, just as the first man came back into the store.  Instead of asking the first man if he would like what I was going to order, I confronted the first man, asking why his buddy was not buying food for him, since he apparently had money.  I ended up not buying the man anything, and he did not put forth an argument at all.
     Later, I really felt guilty, not for uncovering a plot to take advantage of me, but for not simply obeying the instruction of Jesus.  I had reverted to looking out for myself, instead of letting God look out for me, even though this guy was trying to pull the wool over my eyes.
     On the surface, it seemed like a simple plot to take advantage of me.  But did I really know the whole story of these guys lives?  Did I miss an opportunity to reap a blessing from God?  To please him in obedience?  To maybe get a chance to dig into these guys lives and plant a seed of righteousness?  I certainly did miss an opportunity.
    It is better to simply obey and allow God to take care of us.  None of this scenario surprised God.  He knew it was going to happen, and he allowed it to happen as a test of my obedience.  God, warm up my love for you and others.