The following true story was told by Mark Tidd of Webster, New York, describing an experience from his college days. “An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few cautious inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us a good morning and offered his produce for sale. We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear.
“To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn’t alcohol but cataracts that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on future glory, he’d puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion.
“On one visit, he exclaimed, ‘The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch."
“‘That’s wonderful, Mr. Roth!’ we said. ‘We’re so happy for you.’
“‘You know what’s even more wonderful?’ he asked. ‘Just yesterday I met some people who could use them.’”
We could all learn a lesson from Mr. Roth. He was a living example of what it means to put the needs of others before our own. Apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:17-18= “Whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, but closes his heart of compassion from him, how can the love of God remain in him? My little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.” (MEV) What John is telling us is: when God’s love is in our hearts and we see someone in need, regardless of our social/financial status, we should try to be a blessing to them. Mr. Roth clearly understood that command even though he was in need himself!
The story is told about a good king in Spain known as Alfonso XIX who learned that the boys serving in his court were forgetting to pray before their meals. So, he decided to teach them a lesson. He gave a banquet and invited them to attend. Midway through the dinner a ragged beggar came in, sat down, and began eating ravenously. When he was finished, he went out without saying a word. “That ungrateful wretch ought to be whipped,” shouted the boys. “He ate the king’s food and never showed gratitude.”
Quietly the king rose to his feet, and silence fell over the group. “Daily you have taken the rich blessings of life from the hand of your heavenly Father,” said the king. “You’ve enjoyed His sunshine, breathed His air, eaten His food He has provided, and you have not bothered to say ’thank you’ for any of them. You are more ungrateful than that beggar!”
There’s an old Danish proverb that says, “He who gives to me teaches me to give.” If we are ever going to learn to give to others we must first be thankful for what God has given to us. When we see how God is merciful to us it becomes easier to show mercy to others. When we are grateful for how good God has been to us then we will be good to those around us. It’s a command we should all live by…just ask Mr. Roth!
Rev. Doug Johnson, Senior Pastor, Lexington First Assembly of God in Lexington, KY.
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