#347.1 – “… If You’ll Pay Me Back Two Dollars and Fifty Three Cents.”

“And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:6
I don’t remember now where exactly we were… but the family had been out the other day and Joshua had a little bit of change with him. At some point, he motioned for me to lean over so he could tell me something. When I did, he whispered in my ear that he would let me ‘borrow’ two pennies if I would later pay him back two dollars and fifty three cents! I told him he should go to work for the credit card companies!
Joshua is old enough to understand that having the ability to buy some things for yourself is fun. And – like any other normal kid – he would always love to have more money to be able to spend. But his little ‘system’ he had come up with, while funny, was a good reminder to me of how quickly our ambition can carry us farther than we ought to go. The Bible is clear about the wrong of taking advantage of another in order to make gain for yourself. At the heart of this sin is the issue of how we perceive ourselves versus the other person; do we believe that we are more worthy than they to receive gain? Have we any concern for their well-being, or ours alone? Do we focus exclusively on self? A healthy approach is for us to always keep our eyes on Jesus and be reminded of how He views people and things.
Lord, I realize that, apart from You and Your grace, my ambition would be willing to go to any lengths - including the destruction of others – to get what I want. Help me to stay reminded of that as I seek to reflect You to the world around me.

Daniel