My Friends Dad
I think that
our church has some wonderful music. We
have some awesome talented people that are great at using their gifts to
glorify God. We have wonderful messages
from our pastor, and creative videos that enhance it. Our visual arts team does an awesome job at
bring out an ascetic that pleasing to our senses. It is quite beautiful to see our church do
these things for God. At least that is
what it appears to be.
But I sit listening and watching all these things
every Sunday. I think to myself, “How
many of these people are really being transformed.” I really wonder if what the church is doing
on a Sunday morning really shaping people into disciples. Or is the church doing something else? My mind keeps wondering. I then wonder what does God think of all of
this.
My friend’s parents got divorced when he was
young. He doesn’t really remember the
divorce. He only remembers having to go
to different houses once in a while. Year after year my friends dad got less
and less involved in his life. He
doesn’t recollect much of his dad.
Even though his dad was less and less involved in
his son’s life, he always would send presents and money. My friend’s dad made a lot of money. He had his own business that would require
him to work a lot of hours, but he really made a lot of money. He had no problem paying child support and
even giving extra for the rest of the family, including his ex-wife. My friend’s mom never complained about money
or not having enough “things” because of the divorce. Actually she made out pretty well. My friend’s dad never complained that he had
to pay the money. After all, he had
enough of it to go around.
Every Friday my friend would get mail from his
dad. Inside the envelope was a piece of
paper that read: “Hope this helps.” With the note was a check for $200. Every
week he would get this. There was
nothing more than those three words: “Hope this helps.” There was no, “Hey I
hope you are doing well.” Or, “I miss you and can’t wait to see you.” Or, “I
love you, hope school is going well.” I
asked my friend how he felt about this, and he would always say the same thing,
“The money means nothing to me. I just
wish my dad would spend time with me or really showed me he cared.”
What is God thinking or feeling when we come on Sunday
with our gifts – money, music, etc. We
sing songs that have the lyrics, “I give you my all, Jesus.” But what happens
when we leave church? What happens when
Monday comes? Or Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday? Are we
living any differently than the day before?
Are we really “giving our all to Jesus”?
How does God feel about our actions.
My friend just wanted a Dad to be in his life. He wanted someone to talk with, laugh with,
and learn from. He wanted someone to
just spend time with. The gifts meant
nothing to him. The $200 a week was a
waste.
I believe God wants more than our gifts on
Sunday. He wants more that our money and
music. He wants us. He wants a relationship with us. He wants us to spend time with him. The gifts
mean little to Him, if we are not living a life for Him.
My friend’s dad is not much different than we
are. It is easier sometimes to give
gifts away than it is to spend time with one another. God wants more than our gifts, he wants all
of us.
