LETTER: Guard against being self-serving and dishonest
You and I are God’s hands and feet – Pastor Gerrit Mes.
• Pastor Gerrit Mes of the AFM Pentecostal Fellowship writes:
Being Gerrit Mes in Mogale is not easy. Many people are more interested in my walk than my talk. In fact, I often get the feeling that people watch me to catch me out.
Do I say a prayer before I eat my food at Mugg & Bean? Do I tip the car guard? Eyes are on me, I know.
A few days ago, someone entrusted me with a bit of money to be used at my discretion. I stopped at a red traffic light. A lady about my age approached my car with her placard, “Help, kids to feed”.
Next to me lay a few R200 notes. Then I thought, R200 is a lot of money. In my moment of hesitation, a car pulled up next to me. The window went down and I saw the lady give R20 to the lady with the banner. My human side was quick to react. Feeling that I was being watched, I reached for the R200 note.
This was my perfect chance to exhibit my sainthood. Giving this lady R200 could have gotten me points in the eyes of all who were watching me. I stopped as I realised, if I give her the money, R200, it would have been not only self-serving, but dishonest. Not my money. What did I do, you may ask? I put that money, R200, in my wallet and I will give it to that lady because it is the right thing to do. But it has to be given for the right reason. You and I are God’s hands and feet.
He gives to us to give to others. There is a lot of religion around today. Lot of it is self-serving. What is pure religion? James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from this world”.
Remember, if you are seen, you already have your reward.
