First In Line

What in the world are we doing? “Black Friday” has nearly become a national holiday and I don’t doubt it wouldn’t take much convincing by big business to get Washington to declare it as such. A large retailer ran a commercial on television Thanksgiving Day that should have totally outraged the American public. The scene was of a female, presumably a mother, placing the last Thanksgiving feast dish on the dinning table, surrounded by family. Those seated begin to dig in, but not quick enough as the “mother” grabs the end of the tablecloth, dragging it off the table, feast and all through a swinging door into the kitchen, much to the surprise of everyone. Then leaving the assembled group she lets them know dessert is in the fridge. What’s going on? She needs to be first in line, to spend money she probably doesn’t have, at a store that is looking to better its bottom line before the years’ end. So, now we don’t even have enough time to give thanks for what we have before selfishly wanting more? Oh right, I forgot. You’re bargain shopping for Christmas gifts and don’t expect to receive anything in return, right? That’s all I’ve got to say about that.
A neighbor was visiting and the two women sat in the kitchen seriously discussing the situation of all the toy recalls during the past few months. Young Tommy entered the room announcing his desire for a cookie and a drink. While his mother was fulfilling his request the neighbor asked, “Tommy, what are you going to give your baby brother for Christmas this year?” “I dunno”, replied Tommy. “Last year I gave him the measles.”
Morris Siegel, a street person in Los Angles, California, on the surface seemed like your average LA street person – roaming about in dark alleys, sleeping out of doors, carrying everything he owned in an old shopping cart. He died the way one expects a street person to die – found in an alley, dead of natural causes, heart trouble perhaps. But there was something about him that was different. Maybe it was his three bank accounts containing a total amount of $ 207,421.00. In 1979 Morris’ father died and left him the money. When Morris did not claim it, the Division of Unclaimed Property tracked him down and his family forced him to accept it. He did not show up at the ceremony when the cash was handed over. He took enough of the money to buy an old car, where he slept during bad weather. Relatives rented him an apartment; he never went there. He died September 14, 1989, with three dollars in his pocket and an untouched fortune in the bank. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, figure this one out.
[Matthew 16:26] Nearly two thousand years ago, our Heavenly Father ratified his will and left all of his children eternal wealth – life, peace, and victory. (Read Hebrews, Chapters 8, 9 & 10) To this day, many have not claimed the windfall and some have refused to spend any of it. Lost people shuffle down blind alleys of an empty existence, facing hell for an eternity, ignoring the salvation promise in Christ. Many Christians are content to live isolated, unproductive lives on this earth when they have the riches of heaven at their disposal. (Read 2 Corinthians, Chapters 8 & 9) Paul tells us that our Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”, but I have this feeling that most people feel that “to give will be blessed by what is received”. Do you really want to be first in line? Stop and truly thank God for all you have, then, give some of it away, free!