Randy & son Aaron

www.truthworks.com                 09 MAR 04                 devotion archive

CHILDISH HUMILITY

I tell you the Truth,

I’ve got a dollar bill in my pocket.  It belongs to my mother.  Yea mom, you’ll get it back eventually.  But first, there is a story behind the bill.

While eating last Saturday at the newest pizza place in town, my mother gave my six year old son, Aaron, a dollar to play video games.  A few minutes later, Aaron returned telling his grandmother that Travis took his dollar and used it on a game.  So my mom did what grandmothers do and gave him another dollar.

Well, on the trip home a typical scene occurred in the back seat between my ten year old daughter, Alyssa, and Aaron.  Alyssa was testifying that Aaron spent the dollar, not Travis, and Aaron was arguing that he didn’t.  After the debate quickly turned into a shouting match, my wife and I did what we do in this situation – screamed into the back seat to stop it now or I’m pulling the car over.

Once we gained control, my dad given gift of playing prosecuting attorney went into effect.  I was going to solve this issue quickly because someone was definitely lying.

At first, Aaron’s testimony seemed solid.  He cried out that he was innocent.  But Alyssa insisted that Aaron spent the dollar and Travis only helped him put it into a machine.

Well, it was only a matter of time before I pressured the guilty party into a confession.  And Aaron succumbed to the truth.  Yes, he did spend the dollar.  Case solved.  Mark another one up for me, the prosecuting dad.  But the story doesn’t stop here.

Upon arrival at the house Aaron did something completely unexpected.  He slowly walked over to his mother, pulled a dollar from his pocket and simply said, “Here, give this back to Ma Maw.  It’s hers.”  Lisa and didn’t even know he still had the second dollar.  Lisa took the bill and handed it to me.  It’s been in my pocket ever since.

Obviously, I was very proud that my six year old son would show such character.  He returned something that didn’t belong to him.  But the story doesn’t stop here.  There was a reason that this dollar ended up in my pocket.

As I thought about the character that Aaron displayed, I began to contemplate my own character.  I knew that God had orchestrated this encounter because the more I thought about the dollar, the more I knew I had some unfinished business of my own.  Stay with me on this one.

You see, about six years ago, Lisa and I had three bed rooms of carpet laid.  Along with the carpet order, they were also supposed to deliver ceramic tile for our bathroom.  For some reason, the carpet layers forgot the tile.  Before they left, I offered to write a check, but they said to wait for the tile to come and then pay for it all at once.

Well, weeks went by and then months.  No tile.  No phone calls.  And no check.

Like I said, this was six years ago.  Several times, I’ve thought about calling the carpet store and letting them know that I still owe them money.  But each time I thought about that, I’d also think about what other bills I needed to pay or what else I could use that money for.  So I never called.  Until yesterday.

Yesterday I walked into the carpet store and told the man I bought the carpet from that I owed him money for carpet he sold us six years ago.  He stared at me and looked me in the eyes and said it was obvious why I was there.  He could tell from the look on my face that God had brought me there.

Matthew 11:
²⁵At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Matthew 18:
³And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

You know, sometimes I think I’m pretty smart.  I think I’ve got a handle on this Christian walk.  Sometimes I think I’m doing pretty well.

Sometimes God uses a little child to show us how far we are from being Christ like.

And the story doesn’t end here.  At least I hope it doesn’t.

I hope this story continues not only in my life, but in yours too.  God’s not finished with me yet.  And He’s not finished with you either.

Your Servant,

Randy Hunt
randy@truthworks.com
2TIM 1:7

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