Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Selfishness (02/14/05)
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TITLE: Manna From Above | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joy Osawemwenze
02/17/05 -
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“ My sermon today will be brief and precise,” he began in his usual baritone “ first I would like to start by telling you a short story”
“ There was a man called Frank, “ he said, “ who was just a Church going Christian. Frank was in need. He was jobless, needed money to pay the hospital bills for his sick wife, for the fees of his two children and to keep his newspaper business going. Frank met his local church pastor for a loan. Unfortunately, the pastor was too poor to help him. But referred him to a rich member of the Church. When Frank met this wealthy man- Elder Toby, he complained on not having any money with him. He did not even have any in his account because he had just made a big investment. He opted to pray for Frank instead. Well, Frank had requested for four thousand pounds but Elder Toby prayed a prayer worth twelve thousand pounds.”
I smiled.
“ Well,” the pastor continued “ while elder Toby, prayed fervently in a deep sweat he fished his handkerchief from his pocket to mope his brow. Unknown to him some pounds notes fell out of his pocket in the process. Frank being a desperate man quickly gathered the money into his own pocket. By the time Elder Toby discovered what had happened, Frank had made his getaway.”
A soft laughter rolled out in the congregation. I smiled again.
“Frank finally surfaced about a month later and was brought before the Church authorities.” the pastor said. “Toby accused Frank of stealing his money. Frank attested to having gotten some money during the prayer but firmly claimed that it was not Toby’s. He explained that while Toby prayed the heavens opened and money came down. To him it had just been a repeated case of manna from above. Elder Toby who believed the days of manna were over was angry with this. He stressed that he had about ten thousand pounds with him. Then Frank calmly asked “but that day Elder, you said you had no money with you” that paused Toby. He tried to bungle his way through but he was trapped in his own deception. Toby had no proof or witness so at end of it all Frank got away and Toby lost his money and his integrity before everyone.”
This elicited various reactions from the congregation. Some looked approving while others looked uncompromising.
“Well, Brethren, I wouldn’t give credits to Frank because he stole by trick. I guess you might say Toby deserved what he got but many of us in a way are like Toby. We are so prominent in church; we love only with our lips but don’t show it in our actions. Do you know that giving and sharing can open resistant doors? I certainly cannot imagine Frank standing a minute to listen to elder Toby if he dared to share the gospel with him. Let us learn to give no matter how little. God cannot send down manna from above today but we can share the one we have – love, care, whatever. God blesses you and you make a difference in someone’s life.”
As the pastor preached my thought strayed to the almost new shoes in my wardrobe. Tai, my friend and neighbor had been after me for it. She had no good one and she needed one to make her presentation in school next week. I know her widowed mother was poor but that was not my fault. She was always asking for something. But at the moment I could not stop the guilt that pricked my heart. I made a decision within me.
The next morning Tai was so shocked when her gave her the shoes for keeps. She was delightful. As I was leaving I paused at the door and asked
“Tai do you know…that God loves you?”
I waited for the usual dismissive snort that always welcomed my attempts to tell her about God but there was a rare smile on her face instead.
“ Em…. that’s good to know” she answered quietly.
And the joy and contentment that flooded my being was inexplicable
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