Envelopes And Oranges
“We are poorly clothed, we are roughly treated… we have become as the scum of the world.” I Corinthians 4:11, 13
It’s not all bad that you might not have as much as the next guy. You might be on course like Paul to make a massive dent in the world for the Lord’s glory.
PLUSH PASSAGES
While in my twenties ,I owned an amazing car that attracted lots of attention—but not for the reasons you might expect. Here’s what happened.
A unique opportunity came my way to own a really nice car. It was plush plus. I was able to borrow it for a few weeks before I got it.
While driving it around, I noticed people regarded me differently as I stepped out of my prestigious car. Part of me enjoyed being treated as someone important—yet there was an inner struggle. My goal in life was to please the Lord—not impress people. I decided not to get the car.
A WANNA-BE–HIPPY MOBILE
A little while later a second opportunity presented itself—and what an opportunity it was!
A dear friend of mine, who had been a wanna-be hippy, decided to sell his car. This was no ordinary car. It had huge rusted dents from various collisions everywhere— on the front, the back, the two sides, and even in the hood and on the roof! All the upholstery was torn up and the dashboard had cracks as wide as my fingers. It was filthy. But it sure was cheap.
While I was trying to decide whether I should buy the junkyard special, I’d read about some of Apostle Paul’s hardships in the Bible. He made the amazing statement, “We are as the scum of the earth.” *By this he meant that others had nice situations, good clothes and many possessions, but he, and some people working with him, had little. That’s no fun, is it? But why was Paul in his situation?
Because he was making every effort to spread the Gospel in very difficult times, Paul had an exceptionally deep relationship with God, so I reasoned I ought to follow in his footsteps. I bought the car.
ATTENTION…WHOOPS!
My first day on the road surprised me. My little car drew attention everywhere I drove. When I traveled through town, people would stop and stare. Some would point and laugh. While stopped at red lights, I could see every eye turn toward me. I hadn’t been afraid of people’s opinions much since I dedicated my life to Christ—in fact, I’d come to enjoy being different from others and walking according to my own convictions instead of mindlessly following the crowd.
But…all the staring eyes and laughs started getting a bit tough to handle as I drove around in my little bomb of a car.
By the third day, I found myself squeezing down in my seat so people wouldn’t notice me as I drove along. If you could have seen me in my car, all you would have seen was a head with eyes poking up just high enough to see over the dashboard. It was difficult driving like someone who’s four feet tall when you top six feet!
But in spite of my embarrassment, I was determined to be different and drive my little ultra-economy dirt-cheap junker on wheels—regardless of people’s opinions. But, God had mercy on me.
VERY HAPPILY PRAISING GOD FOR A PROBLEM!
On the tenth day, my rusted treasure developed a water leak. That’s a problem…a BIG problem. But like most items in the car, the temperature gauge didn’t work.
By the time I got home, the engine had over-heated, and—in a quarter-mile of puffs of smoke—it was no more. It was a bitter-sweet day when the wreckers took my little rust pile to car heaven. My kids jumped for joy.
We bought another car somewhere between luxury-plus and moving-wreck. Our new car served us well and I learned another lesson of balance in the Christian life. The words of Proverbs 30:8 took on a whole new meaning, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.”
GOD’S BALANCE 4 U
How about you? Have you found God’s balance for you? Do your clothes and possessions reflect the Lord in a way He would be pleased, or are you excessive in either direction? Some people take pride in sloppiness. Others take pride in impressiveness and have never realized that the God of the universe loves them. They try to fill the need for love by trying to win people’s approval by acquiring all the nicest clothes and possessions.
Another route people take is to go the route of pursuing the highest grades or highest praises at work. Still others wear themselves out trying to super-excel in athletics or some skill—anything to get attention, approval, acceptance and admiration.
That’s a hard life. People’s shallow approval can turn to disapproval in a moment of time—as I found out when I switched cars from snazzy-plus to rust-on-wheels.
Choose to be a person who lives moderately. Seek to be God’s man or God’s woman where your goal is to be God’s instrument to help, bless, and encourage others—not to impress them.
Loving—not impressing—is the realm we were created to live in. Remember those close to you in your own family, then move outward from there. This will bring you into a meaningful life, full of pleasing God and true purpose.