Sunday, I had an unusual faith-testing experience. In many ways it was a trivial trial, certainly nothing to be overly upset about. I confess that I was anxious and stressed about what happened. At the same time, I realized that God was teaching me about His Sovereign relationship with us and what He chooses to bring into our lives that we might serve others and in so doing serve Him.
Sunday evening Ron wanted to go to church extra early as he was singing a solo that night. He was upset and wound up and certain we weren’t going to make it on time. As it was we waited outside the church for fifteen minutes until the doors were opened.
When I went to start my car to move it out of the driveway, it wouldn’t turn over. Two of the men who arrived early, pushed the car out of the fire lane and into a parking spot. I mentioned I would need help getting the car started after services. Now there is nothing I hate more than being stuck with a broken car. It unnerves me.
I went into the auditorium, where Ron was practicing and sat on the front pew next to a developmentally disabled man. He said his name was Chuck (not his real name) and began to tell me about the church and how he had belonged to it for years. He told me he had taken the bus to church, and then asked, “Can you take me home?”
I replied, “My car is broken down, but I will be glad to find a ride for you.”
Because I was feeling anxious about the car, wondering if it would be an alternator or starter or battery and not knowing if a battery jump would work or if the car would have to be towed, I felt it was best for me to help Chuck find a ride rather than take him home. It was going to be difficult enough for Ron who becomes disoriented and upset when he is out of his comfort zone and thrust into unfamiliar situations.
As we waited for the evening service to start, Chuck continued to mention every few moments that he needed a ride home, and I kept reassuring him I would make sure he got one. But he wasn’t convinced because he could see that I was anxious and uncertain.
After the service we waited at the front of the church, thinking that one of the men would help us, but they left. Then I mentioned our need to a staff member who said he would get help for all of us.
I asked a couple if they could take Chuck home, but they said they were going shopping. My first thought was, Why couldn’t they take him home and then go shopping?
Ron, Chuck, and I left the auditorium and waited in the hallway for help but no one came. Chuck didn’t look directly at me but spoke to the air saying, “There are no more buses coming, and it’s dark.”
I again promised him, we would make sure he got a ride home. I was feeling overwhelmed by two needs I could not take care of without help. I don’t remember praying at all, but God was fully aware of my concerns.
By then I thought about calling a towing service, but I don’t have a working cell phone. I started to see if I could find a phone when the staff person saw me and realized we had not gotten the help we needed. He came and said someone was outside ready to get our car started, and he would make sure Chuck got a ride home. Our car started and we were able to get home. It turned out that our car needed a new battery.
What did I learn from this unnerving experience?
First, one of the major things God is teaching me is that serving Him is an everyday experience, an every moment exercise. I must be open and aware when He charges into my life and presents me with a divine appointment to serve others. These moments usually come crashing in as unwanted intrusions. They are the last problem I want to deal with, because I was most likely right in the middle of taking care of some duty and have so many other pressures to handle. Nonetheless, God calls me to respond, Now.
Second, God presents people needs to us when we least expect it, and we need to be willing to shift gears to help and not lock into our own agenda.
Third, we need to change our attitude and mindset. If we act like the person is intruding on us and that we really don’t want to help, we only make the person feel humiliated and small and that we don’t care. It was the reaction of Job’s friends to his losses and needs that increased his pain to an intolerable level. No one should have to feel ashamed that he/she needs help. We need to feel reassured and loved and cared for.
Fourth, we need to reach out to those who are vulnerable, whose lives may be difficult, who need that extra mile of giving from us, and extra assurance that we care and will follow through to help or get needed help even if it is inconvenient and when we cannot do it and need to ask others to help.
Finally, this is the least of reasons for giving, but it is a reminder of Jesus call to serve. “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded”
(Matthew 10:42 NLT).
Scriptures to Ponder from The Message
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 “When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost. Don't listen to that selfish voice . . . and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He'll call God's attention to you and your blatant sin. Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.”
Luke 6:31-34"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.”
