THE RIGHT THING TO DO
(Part 2)
I've been working steadily for the last twenty one years, having only ten days in a row of continuous time off in any given year. I told one of my former co-workers if ever there was a time to be unemployed it had to be this winter. It has been unusually warm this winter which has allowed me to get much of the outside work around our home done, not to mention plenty of time to cut, split, and stack firewood. But with all the time I had on my hands in the month of December, I was always thinking about what was to come. I still had bills to pay, not to mention personal commitments for which I alone was responsible. Even when I would pray before eating, I would hear the words, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of you."
About a week or so after I had left my job, and before I ever knew I would be receiving the money for the unused vacation, I was leaving church and walking toward my car to go home. Mike, his wife, and her daughter had been coming to the church on a regular basis for about a month. I had met Mike initially at the store where I worked as a customer. He would leave his car running when he would pump gas because he frequently had problems getting his car to start after turning off the ignition. Almost to my own vehicle, I couldn't help but notice Mike was having trouble starting his vehicle. And I stopped in the middle of the parking lot hoping the motor would turn over. Another GOD opportunity; "Please Lord, ask someone else."
Mike got his car started, but I waved him over before he drove away. "Is it the battery or the starter," I said after he had rolled down his window. He said it was the starter. I said, "Find out what it costs to repair it, and I'll take care of it." Have you ever noticed the times you seem drawn to somebody who needs help and find it strange no one else seems to notice? I don't think it is a coincidence. As it so happened Mike was going to be speaking that night at the Sunday night service, although; I didn't know that at the time. He originally grew up in a place called Miracle Valley, AZ. And had had some kind of connection with a well known evangelist by the name of A. A. Allen. WOW! Did he have a testimony.
On Sunday evening, just before Mike was going to get up and give his testimony, I asked to speak. I told the congregation I would have preferred Mike not be present before I spoke because I didn't want to embarrass him should I say something which might do so. And this is what I said:
"Today before going home, I learned that Mike needs a new starter for his car. I'm pretty sure, if he had the money to take care of the problem, he would have done so by now. When it comes to giving, I prefer to do so anonymously. I have found by my own experience when someone does something for me, and I know who it was, I have a tendency to feel indebted toward the person. I told Mike to find out how much it would cost to have it repaired, and I would take care of it. I'm asking those of you who are present to help with the expense so Mike will know it is the church which helped him get the car fixed."
After the following Wednesday night service, Mike told me he had collected a certain amount of money. He also said he had called around, and the cheapest estimate he had been quoted was close to two hundred dollars. And I thought, "FOR A STARTER?! Lord, what did I get myself into?!" I said, "Let me call the guy who works on my truck and see what he will do the work for." I also asked him for a number where I could reach him.
The next day I called a couple of places, and the cheapest quote was indeed two hundred dollars. Then I called my friend who works on my truck. He said he would get back to me. When he called me back, he said parts and labor would be around $130. We took Mike's car up to my friend on Friday morning and would pick it up the next day. Mike said he had an appointment to take his wife to the free clinic on Friday evening, so I handed him the keys to my car and said, "I'll see you tomorrow." Before I got out, I handed him five dollars for gas. He said, "You don't have to do that." I replied, "I should have bought the gas before we dropped off your car."
"Remember your vow."
I had the rest of the day to play outside after Mike had dropped me off near my home. Out of the blue, with nothing particular on my mind, I heard the Lord say to me, "Remember your vow." Uh-oh, what did I do now? I had no idea what GOD was referring to just like the time when HE said, in an intensive kind of way, "I've given you a gift." I am very aware of the admonition of the Word of GOD regarding a vow. And I make it a point not to do so because it is a really big deal to GOD. So I could not for the life of me figure out what it was the Lord was talking about, but HE definitely made sure I wouldn't forget it.
It wasn't until this very day that I figured out what GOD was referring to. I could only think of one vow I had ever made and that was to my wife during our marriage. But I learned via Mr. Bowers, speaking on Daystar today, that a vow is also anything one promises or commits to through their word. I realized I had told Mike I would take care of the repairs on his car. I owe Mike the money he was given by others to help fix his car. As it so happened, not only did my friend fix the starter, but he also fixed one of the car doors so it would open and close, and raised a window to the closed position which they could not close during the colder days of this winter. My friend is as honest as the day is long, and I'm blessed to have him as my mechanic. I always give him more than he charges because he always does more than I ask but bills me as if he didn't.
I want my heart to be right with GOD. I guess I know where a portion of my tax refund is going. At least that will be one thing I can do anonymously. |
