This morning as I was going to the store I overheard a group of people talking about Jesus and the church they were going to, and deciding whether or not which church was right for them with the cashier in the store. I’m on a friendly basis with the employees of the store, they’re good people. Maybe it’s the fact that they have K-Love radio station blaring all day long in that store.
The piety of the customers and the cashier was obvious, but they were missing opportunity to show their piety because when I walked out the door a woman in her 60s driving an old Jeep Cherokee asked if I could buy her gas. I thought about it for a millisecond and said to myself, “Is this woman scamming me? Why should I help her?” Then I thought to myself, “Damn, this money is for the casino.” Which begs the question at that moment, “Have I become so selfish and self-centered that I cannot help this woman?” So, after arguing with myself I told the cashier to put $20 on the pump for her. She needed to get to OKC after being in the hospital because she was diabetic and had some problems.
Later when I was thinking it over and arguing with myself whether or not it was healthy to ask those questions of myself about the lady and how the customers had believed in piety but didn’t have the opportunity to show it I realized that $20 at $3.19 cents a gallon is not going to get the lady to OKC in an old Jeep Cherokee and I felt ashamed of myself. Here was this woman and I only partially helped. Jesus would’ve filled up her tank and gave her money for food.
The self-centered heart of mine could only partially help because I’m too infatuated with my own desires and when someone is really needing the help I only move to help halfway. This may be due to the fact that people I’ve helped in life have never given two-cents about me. I would be more prone next time to help a stranger fully because I don’t have to deal with the disappointment of knowing they didn’t appreciate it. Strangers show more appreciation than most people that come into your life that you’ve helped.
So, next time a stranger ask for your help, help them fully or don’t help them at all. Be like Jesus or regret not being there for them when they need it most.
