WWJD?

Aman called the church office the other day and asked if we could help him with some gas for his car. The church secretary who handles our benevolence ministry gave him a voucher that was good for $15 down at the local fuel stop.

Apparently the man thought it was a little frugal and asked her if she knew what WWJD meant (What Would Jesus Do)? Then he asked her if she had ever read the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). The church secretary didn’t appreciate the sermon this guy preached and she didn’t get his point but I did - loud and clear (Jesus isn’t cheap and the church shouldn’t be cheap either).

Later I shared the story with the children’s director and two deacons, and all of them got angry about the man’s attitude. I kind of get that too. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you right? But again his point was a touch down.

While I’m not very political, I was a pre-law major in school so I could debate both sides of this argument. But I tend to appreciate the man’s idea that Jesus would have given him more than $15 worth of gas. We drive a Mini Cooper and $15 would have only given us half a tank. In other words, we wouldn’t have gotten very far down the road on such a small contribution.

I’ve never thought about Jesus pumping my gas but as I did think about it I think I see Jesus filling it up and topping it off. You know squeezing that trigger a couple more times to make sure it really was full.

I don’t know what your version of Jesus is but mine is generous and not cheap. I’m a Baptist and I don’t drink (I don’t criticize those that do either) but one of my favorite stories is of the first miracle - you know Jesus is at a wedding reception and they run out of wine and He turns water into wine but not just any wine the very best wine (John 2:1-11). Yes, I know it’s hard for us uptight conservatives to reconcile that passage but the truth is Jesus likes to party and He brings the best wine to the party. Please receive that in the spirit it is given.

How about the time Jesus stole the little boys Happy Meal and after He prayed, this little boy’s lunch fed 5,000 men plus their families and they had left overs (Matthew 14:13-21). God is more than generous. Our obligation is to give to those who ask (Matthew 5:42). Give what we can and leave the rest up to God.

God is generous and we are to imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1) so you be generous as well.

He told me to tell you that. Merry Christmas!

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)