Hebrews 13:16
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
I knew a guy who learned a tough lesson in sharing. We’ll call him David, He was transferred from Joyceville Penitentiary to Beaver Creek, a minimum security institution. (B.C.I.) to serve his last seven months of a five-year sentence for robbery.
Happy to be there, the first place he checked out was the chapel. It was nice for a new Christian and recently appointed worship leader to be in a free-roaming institution with an updated chapel. Today he was looking for a loaner guitar. He wasn't able to bring his from Joyceville, and he sure missed playing the soothing hymns from his retro Salvation Army hymn book. Unfortunately, all of the guitars were signed out but the Chaplain assured him that he would get one back for him. The next day he was happy to be paged down to the chapel over the grounds' loudspeaker to get his guitar. So he spent the rest of the afternoon strumming away in his new, non-cage bedroom. All seemed well. Unfortunately, he soon learned that the guitar returned to the chapel was from a massive, unfriendly looking inmate serving a life sentence. We’ll call him Samson. Hard feelings were evident between both of them. Although he prayed about it, David still felt uneasy spiritually about the whole thing. Although it seemed reasonable that everyone should have equal access to the guitars, the Samson seemed selfishly resentful.
David grew up in a broken marriage, a secular home with two half siblings and a stepfather. The idea of sharing was common knowledge, but he had to look out for himself most of his life. Now at the age of 26 he was questioning the whole concept of selfless giving as he wrestled with his thoughts before curfew in his bed. His thoughts turned to prayer that sounded like this.
“ Dear heavenly Father, why should I have to give him the guitar? He had it for months! He barely plays it at the church and I always do. That seems better to me. Besides, he's been pretty rude and selfish about it. I know you love me what should I do?”
The answer he heard from God sounded like this.
“ Oh really? So it's your guitar? I want you to get up, get dressed and bring the guitar over to his unit right now. You are to offer it back to him. Tell him you love him as a brother in Christ and say you're sorry for being so resentful.”
David chuckled a little at this notion. Basic rationality and reasonable intelligence told him that this was a seriously foolish thing to do.
1 COR.3:18-20
18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written:“He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20 And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
This was to be one of David's first experiences in obeying The Holy Spirit. He grumbled a bit under his breath (which God can hear and may find amusing at times), he then got dressed and grabbed the guitar on his way out. He reluctantly headed over to the lifer's unit and asked for Samson at the door . His roommates let David in and showed him where his room was. He knocked lightly on the door and it was answered with a Gruff “ yeah come in.” David cautiously pushed the door and lightly stepped into the room, being greeted with a curious glance. “Oh, hey, what's up man?” These were the words he was greeted with. David quickly cleared his throat and started to repeat what God asked him to say, adding his own dialogue.
“Hey brother, look man I'm sorry I went on about keeping the guitar to myself. I don't know you well enough to know your situation. I'm getting out soon, I know I shouldn't be saying that but you deserve this more than me. We both have the same father and I love you like a brother. I want you to have the guitar back and maybe we can just share it.”
Samson’s face was blank at first, then slowly turned to light tears.
“I haven't heard that in years,” he said.” I lost my family support years ago. I haven't talked to my mom or my brother and sister in years. I feel depressed and lost most of the time. I play to keep my mind off of these things.”
David gave him a quick hug , left the guitar and made his way back to his room. His quiet sobs of compassion were silenced by the cricket's song.
David and his brother shared the guitar for the next seven months until he was released from Beavercreek. David got to know the lifer and learn more about him and his plight with life. They grew quite close and spent time together in Bible study and led worship together in the chapel. David learned about the real benefits of selfless sharing that day.
Things to consider.
In a world of evolutionary “survival of the fittest” theory, where would the psychology of sharing fit in?
Consider the origin of selfishness, self-help, vanity and egotism
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded
Christ introduced the love others more than yourself concept in total contradiction to worldly secular philosophies. Which do you prefer?
Philippians 2:2-4
…2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.…
Atheist psychology modes cannot explain the scientific reality of the spiritual moral compass of God
I was the David of this story. I learned the power of God's psychology in Beaver Creek, 2003. Prayer goes out to the inmates of the Canadian Penitentiary system.
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