Time to put your thinking caps on.
Last week's inane thoughts spurred a few comments, so I thought we should try this a little differently. Isn't it about time I shut my trap and let YOU talk? This relationship is far too one-sided. I want to get to know YOU (yes, even all you lurkers out there who rarely give any indication you're peeking in).
Come on, be brave. Tell me YOUR thoughts. You can do it. I promise it won't be painful. I'll be nice. Simply click on the comment link at the bottom of this post and tell me what you think. My friends coming over from Facebook can click the comment box at the top of the page or "Post a Comment" at the bottom of the post. It's so easy!
Throw me a bone, friends. Tell me what you think about this scenario.
A few weeks ago I sat in a drive-thru waiting for the guy ahead of me to pay for his breakfast. He kept handing the worker a card and she kept handing it back. Finally he drove off without any food. Maybe because he looked like a college kid and I could imagine Drummer Boy being in a similar circumstance, I wanted to give the poor guy a break. I figured he was coming back around the building behind me to sort it out, so when I got to the window I offered to pay for his breakfast. But AFTER I paid, the worker pointed out he was driving down the street, away from the restaurant.
My question is this:
If you try to do something nice for someone and they never know it, was your effort a waste?
Okay, now it's your turn. Don't leave me hanging here, people.
What do you think?
Photo Credit: SarahWynne
8 comments:
OK, Classic lurker here...
I guess the question I need to ask to clarify is do you want to know if your effort was wasted on him, or you or even the person at the counter?
In my opinion, your effort was probably wasted on the person who left because he never knew. I don't know if wasted is the best term :-) Of course there is the off chance that the cashier might know him or he could be a regular and he may find out that someone tried to help.
But it's good for your heart and soul to try to do good and they say even more so when the person doesn't know.
The Good Lord knows what you tried to do as well and who knows what kind of impression you may have made on the cashier. You may have impacted their life in a profound way and not even know it.
So, long story short? No I don't think it was a waste :-)
Victory! One lurker lured out. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!
Are the rest of you following this? Good answer Jules. I'll give my opinion after more people have weighed in.
Right people?!
My very first thought was these verses from Matthew 6:1-3:
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
So, my answer is: It would only be a waste if your motivation was to be recognized or thanked by them or others, or if your own sense of "see, I did a good, godly thing today" got in the way. If your motive was to bring glory to God by responding to the prompting He placed on your heart, then that could NEVER be a waste!
I was thinking differently when I read the question. I do not see what you did as a wasted effort. Even if the man you tried to help didn't know, the person at the window did. You can't tell me that didn't speak to him/her. I think many times non-Christians are amazed at Christian's willingness to help another just because. (Obviously in this case the "would-be-receiver" didn't know. But the guy or gal behind the counter did). They saw someone willing to help a stranger. You displayed Christ's love, and indirectly someone else saw it. Our job is to be Christ-like in the world, so that others will see we are different. Also, we may be the only Jesus someone sees today. It's not just anybody who buys a stranger breakfast...or tries to anyway. (But I think Jesus would have tried....not a wasted effort).
~ I believe God spurs in our hearts reasons to do things that we may never know why. God had a purpose in this and you may not see what that purpose was until later or maybe not at all. Just know that God used you and that moment for His purposes.
Tami,
I agree with the comment above that it was not "wasted" - but I can understand your perplexity. Generousity is a good witness in almost any scenario ... except when it isn't. That would be when the recipient has an attitude of entitlement, etc.
Good question. Have a good day.
Marsha Y. at Spots and Wrinkles
Something similar happened tous last week. When entering our favourite coffee shop a man who was either drunk approached us and asked for money. We were walking quickly by him and excused ourselves as we were rushing. We have a policy never to give money but we did buy him something from the store. However, when we got outside he was gone. We felt really disappointed that we had missed him - honestly, it wasn't until we were in the store that the thought came to buy him something otherwise we would have communicated this to him.
Anyway, all that to say that, I think God sets us up! I think he plants these events in our lives to see how we respond. I don't think a moment is wasted on Him. Your act of kindness was perfect you just didn't get to receive your reward here on earth ( by having the pleasure of giving the gift) by you my friend are the classic example of storing up treasures in heaven for yourself - one day ypu will be rewarded fully for acting obediently even when it doesn't make sense because the Lord knew Ge would drive away -the test was on you - and you pass!!! I'm cheering you
on : D ((((big hug)))
I must agree with all these smart cookies. I don't think it was a waste. I drove away thinking, "I have no idea what that was about, Lord, but okay, whatever." I'm trying not to read so much into everything these days or concern myself with things too great for me! Can you believe it?
Thanks for chiming in today friends. Shall we try this again next Thursday?
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