I was so impressed years ago with the story of how on Wednesday night
services, Peninsula Bible Church allowed the congregation to take money from the
offering if needed. What a novel and God inspired idea, and it was my dream to
do it. But being the rebel I am, wanted to give God the glory for it, not be a
copy cat, but spirit inspired, and not draw attention to myself. Which I just
did, but that’s the story here. Years went by, and I was invited to give the
Sunday morning message at a Triker Rally in Laughlin. After accepting, I began
to put the plan in action, telling God I needed his help! At first not so I
would be embarrassed if it didn’t work, but so my faith could be boosted and I
could see him in action. A lot to ask all at once....but God was up to the
task.
Trikers are a different lot, mostly older who cannot ride two wheels
anymore, with a streak of poverty among them. A close bunch, their own club in
fact, and about 30 stayed for the sermon, in the hall rented right next the
kitchen in the casino. I felt like Jesus sitting among Matthew’s tax collector
friends, with all the Pharisees looking. So after my teaching about Nicodemus,
titled Nick at Night, I passed the helmet around, explaining what God had put on
my heart. Putting in a twenty just to hedge my bet, we passed the helmet, and
true some did take, gas was over $4/gallon, and the purpose was to help those
who needed, but I must admit I felt a bit anxious. I didn’t doubt God, but I
was doubting me. What was I thinking? I then presented the helmet of cash to
the President of the Trikers Club, who was almost in tears. Seems the
collection plate always went to the speaker to help with expenses, not the other
way around, and I went out and blessed the individual trikers. I was feeling
pretty good, God had not disappointed me, or let me embarrass myself, and I had
an extra bounce in my step, as one man explained he learned more about the
gospel today than years in church. “Keep the head swell down Mike, you need to
fit a helmet over it to get home” I told myself. God had answered my prayer
more than I asked, and I felt funny, as I always do when told about doing a good
job. This was Jesus’ gig, I was just the messenger. Not the banker either.
With one final good bye to be made.....
I wanted to say good bye to the club officers, all women, for inviting me,
who I found talking excitedly, and when I approached, the tears began to flow.
Oh no, still no remedy known to man when a woman cries, but these tears were
different, you could see the joy on their faces. After being embraced, the
President explained they had wanted to start a benevolent fund for their needy
members, but never had the extra cash. The $140 dollars in the helmet would pay
off a final expense, and leave them enough to start the fund. As my tears began
to well up....the dream of many years had been fulfilled, and so had theirs. We
all had never met each other, yet the holy spirit used us to achieve a noble and
proper end, helping the poor. A lesson I have never forgotten, and one I hope
testifies to the greatness of God.
Now some may say this is all about me, and they might have some credence,
but I have the peace of God knowing why I did it. You see when God gives the
desires of your heart, and this was one of mine, he then fulfills the desire of
your heart. It is either all about Jesus or destined to fail. There was no
way I had ever dealt with trikers before, and this would be the only time I was
involved with them. But given the time and the place, and guided by the spirit,
I saw a loving God bless all who were a part of it. Nothing I could ever do on
my own, I am not foolish enough to try that, but I can do all things in Christ
who gives me the strength. $140 may not seem like much to most bikers, but that
day it was like the poor woman who gave her two cents, it was all she had, and
she gave it to God. Trusting him, and honoring him. I felt like the richest
man on earth, only surpassed by the Triker Club. And their benevolent
fund.
We don’t know what God has in mind, if we did we would argue. That morning
I had a dream, a vision fulfilled. So did the Trikers. A secular club, who
never expected the gift from God they got that morning. Next time the helmet is
passed, put in what God instructs, not for your sake, but for those in need.
For by doing these things unto the lesser, we are really doing them unto Jesus
Christ. His words, not mine. And being able to see what Jesus meant when he
explained “give the things unto Caesar the things of Caesar, but give unto God
the things of God.” He doesn’t want or need your money, he needs your acts of
love through obedience. And when he gets the glory, you get the
blessings....that’s my two cents worth.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com