The stuff that dreams are made of, coming across tons of free money, and
all yours for the taking. Well, maybe a dream of yours, but a nightmare when I
came upon it. I was leaving Cortez for Durango after finishing my Coca Cola
route, when I came upon a literal sea of change. An armored car truck had its
rear door open, I was later to find by accident, and tons of coins had fallen
out the back, literally inches deep in a 25’ radius. Traffic was jammed at this
intersection, and all four lanes were stopped. As I pulled up, it had just
happened, and I wasn’t sure what I had seen, or what I was seeing, I turned my
bottle truck to block both lanes in one direction, and attempt to keep people
away. No police had arrived yet, and the armed guards were trying to get some
semblance of order to the scene. I was literally standing ankle deep in
quarters at one time, trying to help, but not sure what to do. From a repair
shop across the street, a man brought some buckets, brooms, and shovels, and we
began to sweep up and shovel the coins into the buckets, under the watchful eye
of the guards. Some others had stopped to help, and by the time the police
showed up the scene was contained, traffic backed up for a mile, each way, and
about a dozen of us were shoveling coins. I am not sure how heavy a shovel full
of quarters is, but my back hurt after 20 minutes, and after unloading my truck
on my route all day. And as the sun was setting, it looked like it was going to
be awhile before the road was cleared. I didn’t see anyone putting coins in
their pockets, but the opportunity certainly presented itself. I have heard and
seen people hitting the slot, but this was way beyond imagination. Funny, I
never heard or saw anything about it in the news, I wonder if for days after
stragglers would go by looking for coins not picked up in the mess. I also
wonder what tale the driver and his partner would tell their boss, and how it
would look on their next resume. Famous or infamous, this is one that they
rather not have been involved in. For me, I got a thanks, from the police for
blocking traffic and helping to contain the scene. I had filled many buckets,
if only one was given for my effort, I would have been rolling in coins, and
rolling coins all night. And to this day when I hear of hope and change, I
remember the change of that afternoon...
Now to some I told, they chastised me, I should have grabbed some, there
were going to be some missing anyway, what would be a few dollars worth more.
But that day I was surrounded with the greatest tract disbursal I had even seen,
for each coin had printed on it “in God we trust.” Tens of thousands of
reminders that we should trust God. Each one a temptation, or a message about
not taking what isn’t yours, and trusting God. An event where for a few dollars
I could have given in to temptation, who would have blamed me, and I would have
sold out for change. Yet at the time it never occurred to me to do that, or
that the message from God was ankle deep before me. A few dollars, yet many
have sold out for less. Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a
slave. I would have been a slave to my conscience if I had taken even one. I
even know of some who would have thought it was an answer to prayer for money
from God, I was even reminded of Jesus pulling a fish from the sea, and taking a
coin from its mouth. Forgetting that Jesus told them to give unto Caesar that
which is Caesar’s, and the things of God to God. I was a representative of God
that day, and had done the right thing. I was an effective witness of trial by
fire, and being ankle deep in some expensive wood, hay, and stubble, chose the
honorable thing. I chose Jesus. And like the Pharisees did with Jesus, I left
in marvel at the event, and how Ihad handled it. Only by the grace of God, did
I not fall into temptation.
Scripture has much to say about temptation, from leading us not into
temptation, to reminding us that all men have been tempted equally. To
temptation of the love of money is the root of all evil. But Jesus also tells
us that when we rise above the temptation, we find ourselves approved. OKed by
God. And a crown awaits him in heaven. A few coins now, or a crown later? Yet
many fall into temptation over the love of money. Or it can be a blessing, just
ask the brothers of Joseph, who filled their sacks with the coins they had
brought to buy food in the famine. the same brother they had kidnapped, sold
into slavery, and told their father was dead. That Joseph. Another test, for
he had survived Potipher’s wife, and his honor had brought him power. No amount
of money could buy the integrity back for the brothers that they had lost.
Suddenly the money was useless, and a burden they had to carry back.
Forgiveness had overshadowed any value the money may have had. And even Jesus
showed the value of money when He told the apostles not to take any money with
them, and He would provide. If only values could be used to pay bills, many of
us would be rich men today. But it still takes money to exchange for goods and
services.
Today Jesus offers each one of us a blank check, fill in the amount, it
won’t bounce. But spend it wisely, as only when cashed in His name, and in His
will will it not bounce. The gift of salvation is free, it cannot be bought
although many have tried. Today a multitude of riches are laying at your feet,
what you do with them will show your values. A parable once told of three coins
given to three men for investment, and what each reaped. If you seek only
riches, you will never have enough. I wonder if I could have stopped at one
pail, at two pails. I am glad I rendered unto God that day the things of God,
honesty, integrity, and overcoming temptation. What each man did that day is
between them and God. I can stand here clear of conscience today because I saw
the value of money in a new light. I saw “in God we trust” like I had never
seen it before. Today we are offered hope and change by a faulty government.
They can keep the change, but they cannot give me hope. Only in Jesus will I
ever find that. Render the things of God to God, your heart and soul, and the
things of earth to others. The things not seen are eternal, those seen are
temporal. Anybody got change for a quarter? I have seen change and been
changed. And I never will be coin operated ever again.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
