Crunch Time

Crunch Time

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

I went to a local department store to purchase a leather club chair and ottoman. My wife added a ‘50’s style lamp to our purchase. At the check out, the cashier scanned the two tickets for my furniture and the box for my lamp. The bill came to $73. I looked at the cashier, then to the large boxes, then back to the register dollar amount. Then, in paranoia I scanned the exit doors for security. I paid the $73 and walked over to my wife. I showed her the receipt and her eyes grew to the size of saucers. I loitered at the end of the register for a few moments… deciding. I spoke to my wife and said, “I can’t do it. If I am really following God, I can’t take this furniture.” I turned to the cashier and had her examine my bill and charge me the correct amount.

I think that the strong misconception is that knowing about God is good enough. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover, in different translations. I have a reasonably good idea as to what it says. But doing what it says is an entirely different animal. When you have the opportunity to live God’s word instead of just reading and repeating it, what will you do? For me, crunch time presented itself with some free furniture. But be sure, crunch time will come again, and again and again. We must always do our part to present ourselves to God as someone who correctly handles the word of truth.

I am ashamed that it took me so long to decide to do the right thing. I am ashamed that I had to decide at all. Doing the right thing should have been an automatic response. I still don’t understand why I have to try so hard to do what the scripture says. I guess this little episode is proof that I am still in need of a savior and that salvation really does need to be worked out daily (Philippians 2:12-13). On the other hand, I see that though I have a tendency to lean in favor of sin, God always reminds me of whom I belong to. And if I am His, then I need to pursue behavior befitting that of a child of the King.