Lessons from my piggy bank (June 15, 2017)
Did you ever have a piggy bank as a child? Mine was shaped like a bear. It had a slot at the top for coins and a cork in the bottom. When the tooth fairy left a few coins under my pillow I would drop them into the bank. When Mom and dad gave me a small allowance for doing chores around the home, I would bank some of my earnings and my account would grow.
When I was six years old my bank was almost full. This was “my money” and I was rich.
One day I was playing with my toys on the living room floor. The big Hi Fi stereo radio was on and I was listening to stories of children around the world who had no food and did not know Jesus.
Suddenly I knew what I had to do. I went upstairs, took out the cork and emptied my “Bank”. I took it to my Mom and asked her to send the money to missions. I needed to do my part to help those children so that they could come to know Jesus.
My Mom asked, “All of it? Don’t you want to keep some of it for yourself?”
I immediately thought, “That would be cheating. It was not my money. It belonged to God.” I knew that if he asked me to make this gift, he would give me more. I needed to be obedient with what I had been given.
Ah, the simple faith of a child.
I would like to think that it is different, now that I am an adult, but is it? Life is more complicated. I have many more responsibilities. How could I even imagine doing something that might be “cute” in a child but irresponsible as an adult?
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.
To his disciples, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9: 23.
What would it be like to have the innocent of a child? What would it feel like to trust my heavenly Father fully and completely? What would my life be like if I would obey the Spirit without reservation? Is self-less obedience even possible as an adult?
Jesus is calling. He offers you the freedom to really live as an adult when you come to him with the faith of a little child.
Did you ever have a piggy bank as a child? Mine was shaped like a bear. It had a slot at the top for coins and a cork in the bottom. When the tooth fairy left a few coins under my pillow I would drop them into the bank. When Mom and dad gave me a small allowance for doing chores around the home, I would bank some of my earnings and my account would grow.
When I was six years old my bank was almost full. This was “my money” and I was rich.
One day I was playing with my toys on the living room floor. The big Hi Fi stereo radio was on and I was listening to stories of children around the world who had no food and did not know Jesus.
Suddenly I knew what I had to do. I went upstairs, took out the cork and emptied my “Bank”. I took it to my Mom and asked her to send the money to missions. I needed to do my part to help those children so that they could come to know Jesus.
My Mom asked, “All of it? Don’t you want to keep some of it for yourself?”
I immediately thought, “That would be cheating. It was not my money. It belonged to God.” I knew that if he asked me to make this gift, he would give me more. I needed to be obedient with what I had been given.
Ah, the simple faith of a child.
I would like to think that it is different, now that I am an adult, but is it? Life is more complicated. I have many more responsibilities. How could I even imagine doing something that might be “cute” in a child but irresponsible as an adult?
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.
To his disciples, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9: 23.
What would it be like to have the innocent of a child? What would it feel like to trust my heavenly Father fully and completely? What would my life be like if I would obey the Spirit without reservation? Is self-less obedience even possible as an adult?
Jesus is calling. He offers you the freedom to really live as an adult when you come to him with the faith of a little child.
