I met a man years ago who was student teaching with my Dad. He was a bit
older than the standard out of college going to change the way things are done
22 year old grad, he had had a previous career spanning a few years of working
for the state of New Jersey. He had worked in the Westfield Vehicle Inspection
Station, where every year when registering your car it had to have some
physical inspections to make sure it was road safe. Long before SMOG rules
became standard, it checked brakes and lights, horn, tires, and other safety
items. All the ones we fail to check on our own cars. At least in Jersey they
get checked yearly. But for a while he worked with the guy who did the headlight
testing, to make sure they were aimed properly. He and a legendary man, who no
one knew the name of, were headlight beam testers, and many a car failed because
of this man. He weighed well over 300 pounds, and his job was to sit in the
car, and test the lights by aiming them at a target. His weight automatically
made the left hand light dip due to his weight, and many a properly aimed car’s
headlights were failed because of his excessive size. When he was relating the
story one night, almost all of us in the room had become a victim of him, or
rather his size. Thankfully just outside the building sat a place to aim your
headlights, for a fee. And then you could get back in line. Hoping a
replacement hadn’t taken over, and the lights would need to be reaimed, for a
fee of course.
How many cars failed, and how much money was made by reaiming headlights
that didn’t need to be is legendary, another urban legend that happens to be
true from the Garden State. And how you can take a well meaning inspection, add
a human element, and upset it. But also the power of one man could help
regulate it, as in the case of Malcolm Forbes. When he opened his mega
motorcycle dealership with Hank Slegers, due to his political savvy, he had an
inspection station build on his property, no bike ever failed, and I’ll bet no
friend’s car due to inspectors size and scope. My first positive, and maybe my
last of “hi I’m from the government and here to help.” Of the people, became of
a person, by the person, and for the person. And worth the half hour ride to
Whippany to get your car inspected. And spend time in the showroom. See not
all motorcyclists are bad.....
Now I am not anti-safety, and working in Colorado and doing brake and light
inspections, I saw too many neglected and dangerous vehicles. Fortunately the
headlight adjustment was not part of it. But inspections are nothing new, as
they go way back, and actually were a part of worship to God in the days of
Leviticus. Many if not all sacrifices to God had instructions of what and how
to sacrifice it. Precise and simple so the people would get it. But like in
daily life, when man and the government are involved, you can bet things will
change. Fast forwarding to the time of Christ, there were approved sacrificial
stores where animals could be purchased. The best, the ones approved by God
were the most expensive, and different levels of worthiness were available.
Down to sick and impure ones, the ones God specified not to use. For they bring
disgrace to the sacrifice. Yet we find the 300 pound inspector selling
defective lambs, and another within the temple accepting them. It is bad enough
the government is here to help us, let alone the church. But God was and is
wise enough to see through our sacrifices, and knows our heart. And also our
budgets. So he sent Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for all, the perfect
lamb to be slain for our sins. The only way to be truly forgiven. Yet many
resist, either claiming to be without sin, or denying Jesus as deity. Some even
claim you can work your way to heaven, why work for something when it is
provided for free?
The old joke about a waitress getting a 15% tip, and God only requiring 10%
gives rise to more arguments. Which again God provided for through Jesus. He
gives us the story of giving in the woman with two mites, less than a penny,
giving all she had. A true sacrifice. The Lord looks at the heart, and sees
our motives, unlike the man who stands up and declares to give $10,000,
anonymously. Scripture tells us he loves a cheerful giver, the word meaning to
give with hilarity. Think of the funniest joke you ever heard, and how it makes
you laugh uncontrollably. That is how we are supposed to give. Yet many base
giving on a tithe, 10%, and like the minimum wage laws, that really mean that’s
all I have to pay them, honor God the same way. Again the law brings
condemnation, and through the grace of Jesus Christ we find freedom. I know a
man who has faithfully tithed for years, even going without food and certain
needs to do it. His church requires it. Yet he does in begrudgingly, and finds
no blessings in it. God set the standard for giving when he gave his son to die
for us, something no law could do. Now about those headlights....
If this were all about only giving money we would all be in bad shape. But
Jesus shows us how to be a faithful giver, and show his love, the gospel to
others. He calls it ministry, which is simply seeing a need and fulfilling it.
How can you budget for unforeseen needs? His five examples, given to a church
who has bragged about how much they did for him, amazed them all and still does
today. Thirsty, give water. Hungry, provide a meal. Lonely, go visit. In
jail or bedridden, don’t forget them. And do it to all, just not those in
church or those you know. Welcome strangers, as some have done and met with
angels. Giving is the way to see more of Jesus in your life. Remember that
next time you grumble over giving, or how the church is using it. That ain’t
giving, you may as well keep it. And expect a sermon on tithing when the funds
dwindle....
So remember God and giving next time it comes time to tip the waitress.
God is looking for an outward display of grace in your life. Don’t wait for the
collection plate to be passed to give. Or check to see who is. You may be
surprised on who gives what, and you wouldn’t want to be embarrassed. If a 300
pound inspector is sitting on your heart and causing it to fail to give, it may
need an adjustment, or it may be the inspector. God knows, and by his spirit
will direct you. A vehicle should be inspected daily, a simple check of tires
and horn can suffice, but a daily inspection of the heart is in order too. You
know what I mean, only God is watching, so give unto him, and not to who is
watching, or who is demanding. You cannot take an offering, it is freely given,
or should be. But you can give unto God by showing his love and meeting needs.
With a smile. There was nothing like getting to the end of the line and being
told you passed. Getting that new sticker, good for another year of happy
Jersey motoring. Someday we will all meet our maker, and I know I will hear the
words “well done my good and faithful servant.” It is not how much you have, but
how you use it. Don’t let the 300 pound inspector of religion fail you. You
can never out give God, so don’t try. But you can represent him and his love.
If it were all about money, maybe the only disciple who was about money would
not have sold out Jesus. Give today, of yourself, and laugh as you are filled
with joy doing it. And remember, even the 300 pound inspector had to have his
car inspected!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com