Homer is a senior citizen who, for many years now, has enjoyed sharing the good news that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3). But he also sometimes feels the need to tell the rather amusing, but very serious lesson he learned when he was a young believer. He was a salesman and was beginning to do quite well in his job. He had gotten away from the Lord and was rebuked for his worldliness in a very unexpected way.
Homer had a brother, Howard, living in another state. Everyone who knew Howard knew he was very sly in his dealings with others. In fact, he told so many “half-truths” to get whatever he wanted that many people finally no longer trusted him, including Homer.
News came that Howard had accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and was a changed person. However, those who knew Howard and his sly ways couldn’t help but wonder, “Now what is he after?” Finally, Homer decided to go and find out for himself if his brother was really a changed person.
Upon arriving at his brother’s home, Homer found it was really true. Both Howard and his wife were bubbling over with the joy of the Lord. Their joy, however, only made Homer realize how far he himself had gotten away from the Lord. Then he made a wrong decision.
Homer tried to cover up his lack of interest in following the Lord, and he pretended he was more godly than they were. What Homer did not realize then was that when we are cold and we get next to someone who is warm, one of two things happens. Either we want to get closer to the warmth and get warm ourselves, or we bring our coldness to others and chill them. Because Homer did not want to “confess and forsake” his sin of worldliness, and only pretended that he was following the Lord, his coldness was easily seen and felt by Howard and his wife. Scripture says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13). Although Howard and his wife were very sad to see Homer acting this way, they said nothing at first, but we can be sure they prayed for him.
Sunday morning arrived and they all walked to the gospel hall together. When the time for the collection box came, Homer was all ready to prove that he was enjoying the Lord. Out of his billfold flashed a $10 bill. (It would be more like a $100 bill today!) Very casually, he put it in the box, but inwardly he was hoping that it was seen by the others.
It was when they were walking home that the unexpected happened. As Homer glanced down at the sidewalk, he saw a $10 bill right in front of him. Quickly picking it up, he excitedly said, “Look at this! The Lord rewarded me for putting a $10 bill in the collection box this morning!”
Howard’s wife could hold her thoughts in no longer. Immediately she heard herself saying, “God didn’t reward you for putting your $10 bill in the box this morning! He gave it back to you, because He didn’t want it!”
Do you know, children, that God isn’t pleased with our gifts or good deeds if they are done for man’s praise, or to pretend that we are more godly than we are. God says if we have the praise of men, that’s all the reward we get - there will be no reward in heaven for those things.
Do you know what God does want? He says, “My son, give Me thine HEART.” Proverbs 23:2626My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26). After that, whatever we give or do, however small, will be His work in us - flowing out in blessing to God and man. He will multiply those things into great rewards for all eternity.
The reason Homer can now laugh with us about this incident is because he sees how Satan was defeated by the faithfulness of his sister-in-law’s remark. It proved the scripture to be true again, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor [respect] than he that flattereth with the tongue.” Proverbs 28:2323He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue. (Proverbs 28:23). Also it helped him to look at his worldly life through God’s eyes, and to begin to change his ways.
Has anyone rebuked you lately? If so, have you thanked him? Even if you think that person was being unkind, it may be that God is using him or her to tell you something you need to know. Don’t let what you may think of that person cheat you out of a message from God that will clear the way for the many blessings He has planned for you when you obey Him day-by-day. “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:40,4140Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. 41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (Lamentations 3:40‑41).
ML-06/20/1993