Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life tells us "life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment." Connor and I had the privilege of being reminded of this today - especially the part about a test and a trust. After picking Connor up from school, we stopped by the Walnut Ridge Wal-Mart. I needed a backpack for my new college adventure. (More on that at a later date.) As we were leaving, I noticed a bank envelope lying on the parking lot - you know - the kind they give you when you cash a check or make a deposit.
It had been run over several times. It looked all grimy and tattered. So I kicked it with my shoe, and said over my shoulder to Connor, "Might want to pick that up. See what's in it." I expected it to be empty, or at best, have someone's deposit ticket inside. Nope. Inside the envelope, Connor discovered four twenty's, a ten, a five, a one, and two pennies: $96.02.
Here's where the TEST comes in. Connor has been saving money for the last month or so for an Xbox 360. He's been sticking back money he got for Christmas, and the $10 a week he gets for helping his Mom with the dishes. He spent his two "snow days" this week scanning ebay, looking for the "deal of the century" on an Xbox. And an extra $96.02 makes the dream of an Xbox several steps closer to becoming a reality.
Inside the envelope, along with the cash, was a deposit slip. I said, "Son, the folks at the bank might be able to identify the person who lost this money with that deposit slip. What do you think?" And my son passed one of life's tests. He responded, "If I had lost $96.02, I'd sure want someone to try and get it back to me."
I was right. The bank teller was able to look back through that day's transactions and match the money with its rightful owner. And, I hope the person who lost it takes time to thank God for its return. Maybe it will help put food on their table, or buy gas to get to work, or buy medicine for a sick child. Hopefully some of it will end up in a church offering plate, where it can continue to be a blessing to the Kingdom. But it may go to buy booze, or cigarettes, or drugs. It may be wasted on lottery tickets or junk food. It may provide help through a tough winter, or provide the means to help destroy a person's life. Only God knows.
But that's not mine or Connor's problem. Tonight we will rest with a clear conscience. We passed the test - at least this time. And life is filled with them. But one right decision equips and enables a person to make another right decision. I'm proud of a son who, like his dad, no doubt struggled inwardly - if only for a mili-second - with what to do. The temptation was real. No one was looking. It was cold, hard, untraceable CASH. And $96 looks like $960 when you're thirteen!
But Proverbs 13:11 says, "Money that is gained in the wrong way disappears. But money that is gathered little by little grows." Sounds like God has a plan that works. Xbox or not, Connor and I are doing it His way.
