Yesterday was Father’s Day. It had a little different feel this time around. In February of this year, my dad passed away. Then a few weeks ago, my grandfather (maternal) passed away. That means, for men in my immediate family, it’s just my brother and I.
Over the past few years, Father’s Day has been a little bit unique as I am now a father. I thought back about the surprise gifts I have gotten over the years…and there has been some doosies! In 2014, my wife got me a card…which read, “Next year we will have one more to celebrate this day with!” That was a pretty good gift! But she’s in to surprises like that. Most of the time I think she does it because she knows how much I hate surprises! Every year, it seems like the moment I let my guard down…BAM, here’s your gift.
So as the day went on, I kept waiting to see what she had in store. This year might have been the best, even though it really wasn’t of any earthly value. Late in the afternoon, Isaiah handed me a card. It said a few poetic words (they are just for me) and it had two pieces of paper included. I opened the first and it was a picture. I opened the second and it was a picture as well. Thinking I had been duped, I asked, “What are these?” Isaiah sat down and began to explain each of them. One was from Zariah (Pickle) and one was from him. Each had been carefully colored without any help from mom. It was important that mom hadn’t helped, as mom wasn’t allowed to lay any claim to them!
In a simple moment, I looked at Isaiah (Pickle was back to doing what she does…eating candy and complaining about the problems of having an older brother) and saw something that overwhelmed me. I don’t even know if I can fully capture in language the beauty and innocence of a son wanting the approval of his father and desiring to give him the perfect gift.
I was SURPRISED by the love and devotion he showed. It didn’t cost much, barely calculable. But it was the best he had and he was wanting to make sure I knew he’d given it because he loved me…no other reason.
Yesterday morning, before any of these events, we sat at church. It was the time to worship the Lord through giving and I was having one of those “tough” moments with the Lord. I had written my check for its normal amount. I had written a second check to be designated to a missionary…but something inside said, “It’s not enough.” To be clear, I heard no audible voice, just a simple sense that my obedience in giving had become less than my best.
It wasn’t less than my best because of the amount…it was less than my best because of my attitude. I had given to give…obeyed to obey…and sacrificed to sacrifice.
I was reminded of Paul’s admonition, “The Lord loves a cheerful giver.” I wasn’t cheerful. I wasn’t bitter. I wasn’t begrudging. I wasn’t happy…I wasn’t ANYTHING.
And that’s the point…
My son, when he gave a gift to his father, he gave the best he had with excitement, cheerfulness, and love! He didn’t give because it was Father’s Day – I have countless turtles, pictures, mugs, Christmas ornaments, coasters, and more to prove that. He wanted to express his devotion…and he wanted to do it the best way he knew how.
My giving didn’t reflect that at all. In fact, as I sat in the pew, I pondered if my service really reflected that. I started asking the question I’ve asked a thousand times before – “Why do I do what I do?”
And the preacher inside of me knew that if the answer was anything other than a compelling love for Christ, born out of a heart transformed by the gospel and captured by grace…then I was failing.
So, I searched my heart…and asked God to search my heart…
Then I prayed, “God, how can I give to you in a way that shows what I feel in my heart?”
I heard no audible voice…but a number came to my mind. I thought it was a little extreme…but then I remembered, ‘It’s not about the number…it’s about my heart.’ I asked God to give me a joy…He did.
And out of that joy, I gave…expecting nothing in return.
This afternoon, I came home from a fairly long morning at work…nothing complicated, just another day at the office. It’s that time of the month when I go through the mail. I did…I paid some bills…I looked at the bank account…and I had real peace. What happened next…well, it surprised me.
As I walked into the living room, I saw the mail man drop off today’s mail. My normal routine is to let Kellie collect the mail and then twice a month I go through it…today, for whatever reason, I went out and grabbed it. I got the typical garbage – 0% interest for a year!, NEW LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE, “here’s $25 if you spend $200” (what a deal!)…
But then…hidden between the garbage…was an envelope from a church I preached a revival at. The postmark date was April 28th…I had preached several weeks before that. But…apparently…it had gotten lost in the mail. I opened it up and to my surprise…there was a check! It wasn’t just a check, it was a check for exactly the same amount I had written above our normal giving!
Now…if you think this is a post about giving, you’ve missed the point entirely! If you think this is some “Word of Faith” plug, you missed the entire class!
What is the point?
When I was obedient, expecting nothing, but faithful only because my heart was motivated by love…God did what He always does – He surprised me with grace…again!
So, whatever you find yourself doing today…serve from a heart of DEVOTION, give from a heart of CHEERFULNESS, obey from a condition of HUMILITY, and be faithful for the sake of LOVE – I’ll bet God might just surprise you as well!
Held by Grace, PC