Spilled Coins (Part 1)

Philippians 1:21-26; 2:14-16 says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me...Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."

I've often read these & other words of Paul as prideful boasting on his part, as if he were giving himself credit for the faith & walk of those whom the Lord had impacted through him. Although I know that that was not his intention, the wording he chose sure can look like it at times. But this week I had an experience with a stranger that made me look at Paul's heart in a new light.

I was on my way to lunch with a friend. I had to stop at Kroger to pick up a prescription which caused me to be running late. As I pulled away, I noticed a lady bent over on the sidewalk with a shoebox in a cart. This was odd, since they don't sell shoes at Kroger. After looking closer I could see that she was picking up coins. Thousands of coins that had spilled out of her broken box all over the sidewalk. I parked the van again & went to ask her if I could help her. Of course she said no, but I couldn't just leave her there with a pile of spilled coins and the small styrofoam cup that she was using to pick them up.

As we worked, we talked about saving coins. Since we were able to pay for almost our entire vacation last summer with coins, it was fun to hear about her plans. She & her husband were taking his daughter to New Orleans where he grew up for Mardi Gras. It would be her first time to experience part of her daddy's history. It didn't take long, but the few minutes we had were very enjoyable. And I even made it to lunch with 2 minutes to spare. I actually learned two very important lessons in that few minutes. I'll share the second one in a later post, since it was quite a bit more convicting & requires some more thought.

The first lesson is the one that made me think of Paul. He had the opportunity to travel all over the known world sharing the gospel of Christ with everyone he met. And he had the privilege of watching them come to a relationship with Jesus. But he didn't stop there. As you read about his travels and through the letters he wrote, you can see his heart for discipleship. He visited and spent time with those who were saved. He wrote letters to encourage, correct, rebuke & train them. He dedicated his life to seeing them grow in faith and learn how to walk in the Spirit and look like Christ. He took that privilege & responsibility seriously.

You see, those coins would have been picked up without my help. The woman would still have turned them in, gotten her cash & taken her family to New Orleans. Her step-daughter would still get to see this history that means so much to her dad. I was not necessary in the process. But, because in that moment the Lord opened my eyes, I get to be a small part of her story. People all around us are picking up the spilled coins of their lives. Sometimes they are muddy & hard to see. Sometimes they are shiny and just need to be put back in the box. Sometimes they have just spilled, and sometimes they are already partially picked up. Sometimes these people could pick them up on their own, and sometimes they have given up and are sitting next to the mess not knowing what to do next. And sometimes we get to be the one who comes along & helps them put them back in the box & turn them into the adventure of what God has next for them.

Paul got to do that all the time with people all over the world. He loved them. He loved reaching them & teaching them & serving them & seeing God do beautiful things in & through them. Those of us who minister to the hearts of others get to do the same thing. We get to see people grow in the Lord and watch God make beautiful, exciting things of their messes. And it is not only ok, it is necessary, to take this responsibility seriously and be grateful for the opportunities. God is going to work with or without us. The coins will get picked up. The adventures will happen. We get to choose whether we will be part of the story. Disciple-making is a privilege. And the more we get to be a part of it, the more we get to watch the Lord work, the more excited we will be, and the more we will want to be involved in His work. Like Paul.