11/10/2020
When we are in trouble do we call on God to save us out of desperation, or do we ask for His help so that through His provision, and salvation, we might glorify Him? God’s rescue is not done solely for our benefit, but also to reveal His majesty. When we give to those in need how does it make us feel? The goodness and warmth we experience is only a reflection of what God feels when He answers us in our times of need.
“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.””
Psalm 50:15 ESV
One sunny summer morning I was in Centennial Park near downtown Nashville Tennessee. I was a young man at the time, and was there with my wife and children. We had fed the ducks, toured the replica of the Parthenon, and played on the playground, but now the kids were hungry, so we went to the McDonald’s Restaurant adjacent to the park for lunch. Ann sat with the children as I ordered happy meals for them, and some adult meals for Ann and me.
As I stood waiting for our order, a disheveled man came in and asked for a rather inexpensive combination meal. I could tell by looking at him that he was on hard times, and when his debit card was declined it didn’t surprise me. He asked the cashier to swipe his card again because he was certain he was not overdrawn. She appeared irritated by his request, but she did, and it was declined again. At that point he whispered to her that he was very hungry, and asked if she could see if there was enough for just a hamburger. When she told him that there were others waiting behind him, and that he needed to move on his face fell.
This was the scene as I heard a familiar voice speaking to my heart and excused myself as I stepped around the other customers, leaned forward and in a near whisper asked the cashier to place the man’s original order, and handed her enough money to cover it. Rolling her eyes at me she took the money and when the man realized what was happening he took my hand and openly said “God bless you sir, I am so hungry.” I noticed those around me looking on, and wondered if the next time they witnessed such desperation if they might consider feeding the hungry.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,”
Matthew 25:34-35 ESV
When I returned to Ann and the children with our food she asked what had happened and I told them of the hungry man who needed help. I wanted to teach this lesson to our kids, but their comments and the way they looked at me gave me a warm feeling and taught me that giving was more about the giver than those who receive.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””
Acts 20:35 ESV
So when God provides for us, or rescues us from trouble, we should take his hand and thank Him from the bottom of our heart, then we should make His goodness known to others so that He receives the fullness of glory that He deserves.
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!””
Psalm 50:23 ESV
My story of the hungry man happened many years ago, and my children are now grown with kids of their own, but each time I go into a McDonalds I still feel the warmth in my heart as if I were feeding that man again today; I hear him thanking me, and feel his hand holding mine. You see, the price of the lunch I bought that day was a small amount compared with what I received by obeying God’s low voice, and feeding his hungry child.
So now today, by retelling this story I have glorified God yet again, and revealed His goodness that day in McDonald’s. I have told you how He gave my family and me a lesson that will carry us towards eternity with Him, and that He receives more than He gives when He opens His heart to us. Thank you Father.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
Psalm 115:1 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for using us to do your will. Thank you for allowing us to show mercy to others so that your glory becomes evident to all who witness your hand at work. Help us Holy Father to teach our children of you, to speak your Word to them, and show them how obeying you will not only warm their hearts, but yield all glory to you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is worthy of all glory and praise forever. You gave your Son Jesus to redeem us Father, and shared your glory with Him that we might see you in Him, and He in you. Wash the sin from us with his blood Abba, and in so doing purify us, and let all creation see the magnificence of your glory as you lift us up and seat us at your table for eternity.
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””
Revelation 4:8-11 ESV
Rich Forbes