Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27
Harriet was about to go to bed. She had worked hard all day cleaning the back yard and mowing the lawn – getting ready for her Christmas guests. She was weary and her back ached from the bending and lifting. She longed for a good (and hopefully long) night’s rest, especially considering that she had to set out early on a long journey the next morning. The door bell rang and reluctantly she went to the door. Her neighbor stood there looking distraught and said she needed a ride to the hospital with her asthmatic daughter.
Harriet was about to go to bed. She had worked hard all day cleaning the back yard and mowing the lawn – getting ready for her Christmas guests. She was weary and her back ached from the bending and lifting. She longed for a good (and hopefully long) night’s rest, especially considering that she had to set out early on a long journey the next morning. The door bell rang and reluctantly she went to the door. Her neighbor stood there looking distraught and said she needed a ride to the hospital with her asthmatic daughter.
Harriet said that she was much too tired to drive the long distance to the hospital but Rose insisted that she needed help. Harriet reasoned that it was not safe for her to drive under her conditions of tiredness and sleepiness, but Rose clearly needed help. She therefore offered to call a nearby taxi and pay the fare. This relieved Rose, who then went back home, accompanied by Harriet, to wait with her daughter until the taxi arrived.
The next day Harriet awoke refreshed and set out on her journey to a seminar. She saw Rose and learnt that her daughter was well again and they had just returned home by the bus. Harriet therefore gave no further thought to the events of the night before. At the end of the seminar an announcement was made for persons to check the bottom of the chairs on which they were seated. Harriet found an envelope beneath hers, labeled “Your Blessing”. In it was $100. Her mind now went back to the previous night and the $50 she had paid the taxi for the journey to the hospital. She then remembered a quote made by one of the resource persons at the seminar: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not to thy neighbour ‘Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give;’ when thou hast it by thee.”
Harriet was glad she had assisted Rose. She now understood this text from the book of Proverbs. She saw how her blessing was returned to her ‘an hundred-fold’. And she thought of how God did not withhold his Son, but gave him freely so that he could be a blessing to us.
Prayer:
“Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray;
Make me a blessing to someone today.” Amen.
(Ira Bishop Wilson)
The next day Harriet awoke refreshed and set out on her journey to a seminar. She saw Rose and learnt that her daughter was well again and they had just returned home by the bus. Harriet therefore gave no further thought to the events of the night before. At the end of the seminar an announcement was made for persons to check the bottom of the chairs on which they were seated. Harriet found an envelope beneath hers, labeled “Your Blessing”. In it was $100. Her mind now went back to the previous night and the $50 she had paid the taxi for the journey to the hospital. She then remembered a quote made by one of the resource persons at the seminar: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not to thy neighbour ‘Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give;’ when thou hast it by thee.”
Harriet was glad she had assisted Rose. She now understood this text from the book of Proverbs. She saw how her blessing was returned to her ‘an hundred-fold’. And she thought of how God did not withhold his Son, but gave him freely so that he could be a blessing to us.
Prayer:
“Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray;
Make me a blessing to someone today.” Amen.
(Ira Bishop Wilson)
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