My Two Cents

Have you ever been given too much change at the grocery store? Many have been, and if you haven't, you probably will be some day. What did you do when you found out? Did you simply continue with your day, feeling as though you were just getting what is rightfully yours, especially in light of this year's taxes? Or, did you go back and set everything right, knowing that the money you received was not rightfully yours, and that it should be given back to the owner?

This is a dilemma that many of us face, and it is made harder since nobody would really know who had the missing funds. When presented with this choice in a hypothetical situation, it is easy for us to make the right decision. Of course all of us would give the money back! But when the situation comes at us in reality, what will we do? I believe the apostle Paul can help us with our dilemma.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are imprisoned, and they are singing praises to God. In the middle of the night, an earthquake came and all the doors were opened, and all the prisoners were let loose of their bonds. Now, the prisoners and Paul and Silas had a decision to make. They could either take the extra change they had gotten and run with it, or they could stay and pay their dues. This would have been an even harder decision for the prisoners, since many would lose their lives. But, even in light of those consequences, the prisoners and Paul and Silas decided to stay and do the right thing.

Now is where things get a little more interesting. The jailer in this scenario would have been killed if any of the prisoners were found missing. This puts a different spin on things, eh? While the jailer was about to kill himself, Paul and Silas and the other prisoners made their presence known, and saved the jailer's life. I found the jailer's next actions quite important. When he saw that these men had not fled, as most would have, he fell at their feet and pleaded with them to tell him what to do to be saved. Wait a second, I thought that his life was just saved because the prisoners were there, why is he asking them how he might be saved? The answer is that the jailer is no longer concerned with his physical life, but is now more concerned with his spiritual well being. Because of Paul and Silas and the other prisoners' righteous actions, the jailer was taught how to be saved.

Now let's look back at our illustration we started with. We are given too much change at the store. Now, while someone may not lose their life over a few dollars, their soul may be gained because of its return. Our actions that show us to be a different sort of people will open the door for spiritual interaction and discussion. Even though the extra money, or whatever the item may be, would be nice, a soul is more precious and important than anything we may accidentaly receive. Let us remember to store up for ourselves treasure in heaven, and keep everything in its rightful place here on earth.

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.