Bonus

Luke 18:27-30 (The Message)

27 "No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

28 Peter tried to regain some initiative: "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?"

29-30 "Yes," said Jesus, "and you won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out.

It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!"

My wife told me a wonderful story yesterday.

As she dropped our children off at elementary school, she couldn't help noticing the shivering teacher who was working in the drop-off line.

No jacket, no gloves, unseasonably cold morning for October.

Holly reached into her jacket (and yes, she's probably going to kill me for telling you this), grabbed a pair of her own gloves and quickly handed them to the teacher. "Here, take these, you need them."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Wow! Thank you so much!"

Later, as she waited for over an hour, outdoors in the line for early voting, she was really wondering whether she'd made the right decision about those gloves.

That is, until the mail came.

Out of the blue, an unexpected $50 refund check arrived at our house. The same mail carried other letters full of good news.

Did God pay Holly $50 for the good deed of giving away her gloves?

I don't know. I usually don't think of life quite in those terms.

I just know this. The truth of what Jesus promises his followers is undeniably true.

You will not "lose out" when you decide to share with others. God simply will not let it happen. There is blessing after blessing in this life, and the best ones come once we stop clutching at our possessions and learn that we can share.

We can share because we can be confident that God will provide. What would happen today if the people of Shepherd of the Hills and Christians around the world decided to see life in these abundant terms?

Ministry budgets could be met. Poverty could be addressed. Burdens could be eased. But most of all...people might learn to trust God...and break free from the chains of "stuff," and the worry, fear and shame that comes with it.

Prayer: Father God, we live this day in gratitude for the amazing ways that you care for us. You are more ready to give than we ever can be. Teach us to trust you in this life, so that we might learn your lessons of abundance, both now and in the eternal life that is to come.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.