My brother Paul shared this with us during his exhortation earlier this week. Here is the story as best as I can remember it:

“People do what they see us do! A couple Sundays ago one of my co-workers who is a native of Africa attended Church with me. Even though he lives on Florida Boulevard he normally rides his bike to work. He ended up coming over to the house for dinner after, and even though he was due at work an hour later than I, he rode to work with me that evening. Since it rained that night I gave him a ride home after work.  What stood out to me happened during service. I sat next to him at Church and not in my regular Elder’s assigned seat to ensure he was comfortable. During the offering I could tell he had very little if anything to give so I gave him two dollars to offer."
               " The next day at work he gave me back two dollars, and then the following day someone gave both of us two dollars each. On the following Sunday my friend could not come to Church but asked me to give his offering. You guessed it, two dollars. I learned that people see what we do and pattern it. I had given just two dollars without thinking about it but God returned my two dollars and gave me two more. But I had set a standard of just two dollars when I could have done  better.”

I have thought about my brother’s story a lot since hearing it. There are so many lessons here I could preach an entire sermon but I’ll let you decide for yourself, however; I already know it’s true, “people do what they see us do!” I know it’s just a thought but Heaven help us!

EF

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