God is very disappointed in you
A while ago I found myself at a street corner arguing theology with a homeless person. I was waiting for the traffic light to turn green so that I could walk across the street when a homeless man came up to me and asked for some money.I was deep in thought about some pressing issues in my life so I shook my head and gave him the “not today” fob off. His response to me was, “Well, God is very disappointed in you.”
He said it in the same tone of voice that my 3rd grade school teacher used when I ‘forgot’ to do my homework. His statement brought me out of my personal musings with quite a jolt. I turned to the man and indignantly demanded, “How can you say that?”“Easily.” He replied, ever so calmly. “I bet you have money in your purse that you can spare and you refuse to help me.” He looked me straight in the eye and repeated, “God is very disappointed in you.”“You don’t know anything about me,” I responded. “You don’t know what problems I’m facing and whether or not I have two cents to spare. You can’t tell me that God is disappointed in me.”“I can and I just did.” He said.From there the conversation (argument, actually) spiraled into a theological discussion regarding God, Mankind and the purpose of our existence. This ‘homeless guy’ argued very intelligently, with sound logic. I was rather enjoying myself. It took me quite a while to notice that people were making wide detours around us and that the traffic light had changed colors a number of times already. I decided to end the debate with the very clever retort of “Well, I’ve got to go now.”I walked off, still arguing with the homeless guy in my head when, out of nowhere, the following thought seeped into my consciousness:“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” It comes from Proverbs 3.I immediately knew I had blown it. I cannot say whether God was disappointed in me or not, but I can categorically say that I was disappointed in myself. The homeless man was absolutely right – I did have money in my purse that I could spare. I was too busy going about my own business to take a few moments to care about somebody else’s.I wish I could end this story by telling you that I returned and gave the guy some money and that we have been firm friends ever since. I can’t because when I got back to the street corner he was gone and I have never seen him again.I can however say that I have learned a dear lesson at the feet of my Master and I am now more intentional in living out the following scripture:“Be careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)Question: What do you think it means to “make the most of every opportunity”?