Our Impact!!

[followerofchrist]

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a> call to a> church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he> had an occasion> to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he> sat down, he> discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a> quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he> thought to> himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It> would be wrong to keep> it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's> only a quarter. Who would worry> about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too> much fare; they> will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God'> and keep quiet."> > When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and> then he handed> the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me> too much change."> > The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the> new preacher in> town?"> > "Yes" he replied.> > "Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going> somewhere to> worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave> you too> much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."> > When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally> grabbed the> nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I> almost sold your Son for> a quarter."> > Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.> This is a> really scary example of how much people watch us as> Christians, and will> put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember --> You carry the> name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself> "Christian."> > Watch your thoughts; they become words.> Watch your words; they become actions.> Watch your actions; they become habits.> Watch your habits; they become character.> Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

 

[Nyoka]

So true. I had a friend, who was a Christian, who was witnessing to another guy at work. One day my friend had a very bad day at work - a Murphy's law kind of day. To top it all of my friends boss blamed my friend for something another person had done and wouldn't listen to my friend on it. My friend never stole from his boss, always tried to set a good example, etc but this was the last straw. My friend went to the storeroom and took a packet of paper clips. Unbeknown to him the guy he was trying to witness to saw this and told my friend that he wanted nothing to do with a hypocritical God. My friend was devastated but decided to put matters right there and then. My friend told the unbeliever to come with him and went straight to the bosses offices and confessed to stealing. My friend lost his job but considers that a small price to pay as the unbeliever turned round then and there and became a believer. God did reward my friend for this as two days later he got a better job with far better pay and working conditions. This taught me that we, as Christians, must always hold ourselves to a higher moral code - even when we think no one is looking.

 

[followerofchrist]

Wow that is awesome! Thanks for sharing Nyoka!

 

[Nyoka]

(followerofchrist;47139)
Wow that is awesome! Thanks for sharing Nyoka!
No probs. It taught me a big lesson though. Both these examples show that we have to be so careful in our Christian walk.

 

[followerofchrist]

Absolutely! The smallest things can mean the most to people who are watching us!

 

[RaddSpencer]

(Nyoka;47137)
So true. I had a friend, who was a Christian, who was witnessing to another guy at work. One day my friend had a very bad day at work - a Murphy's law kind of day. To top it all of my friends boss blamed my friend for something another person had done and wouldn't listen to my friend on it. My friend never stole from his boss, always tried to set a good example, etc but this was the last straw. My friend went to the storeroom and took a packet of paper clips. Unbeknown to him the guy he was trying to witness to saw this and told my friend that he wanted nothing to do with a hypocritical God. My friend was devastated but decided to put matters right there and then. My friend told the unbeliever to come with him and went straight to the bosses offices and confessed to stealing. My friend lost his job but considers that a small price to pay as the unbeliever turned round then and there and became a believer. God did reward my friend for this as two days later he got a better job with far better pay and working conditions. This taught me that we, as Christians, must always hold ourselves to a higher moral code - even when we think no one is looking.
What are you going to do with a box of paperclips --- other that use them at work? I don't get it. This doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I fail to see how this is stealing

 

[followerofchrist]

(RaddSpencer;47183)
What are you going to do with a box of paperclips --- other that use them at work? I don't get it. This doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I fail to see how this is stealing
Its not what was stolen, its the purposeful act of stealing. Nyoka's friend took to paperclips too steal from his boss.

 

[Nyoka]

You are right followerofchrist. The definition of stealing is to take something that doesn't belong to you. My friend purposed in his heart to get back at his boss this way. The paper clips belonged to my friend's boss, as company owner, not my friend therefore he stole them. This was walking outside of the commandment Jesus gave - Mat 22:39. It was also against the ten commandments - Exo 20:15. He was going against God in stealing and showing hatred toward his boss. The other reason this was so devastating was what it showed to the guy he was witnessing to. My friend had been witnessing to him that you could trust God to take care of anything wrong in your life. By trying to take revenge on his boss himself my friend showed the unbeliever that my friend didn't really believe what he preached. This tainted my friends witness to the unbeliever. If my friend had have left it there and not done anything to fix it the unbeliever may have got the impression that Christians are nothing but hypocrites.For these two reason's my friend felt he had to risk his job and do the right thing.

 

[RaddSpencer]

Where I've worked, you have a supply closet. People just go in there, take what they want, and write down the supplies they are taking (for the supply clerk's benefit -- I think).Heck one place, they just had the closet, and no clerk XD. You just took what you wanted, and you didn't have to record anything.So, stealing paperclips, seems almost impossible (from my point of view). If he took them home, or threw them in the trash --- I could see that as stealing. But if the just took them out of the supply closet (and forgot to record it) --- that would be more like forgetfulness than stealing.IDK, maybe I am splitting hairs.

 

[followerofchrist]

(RaddSpencer;47226)
Where I've worked, you have a supply closet. People just go in there, take what they want, and write down the supplies they are taking (for the supply clerk's benefit -- I think). Heck one place, they just had the closet, and no clerk XD. You just took what you wanted, and you didn't have to record anything. So, stealing paperclips, seems almost impossible (from my point of view). If he took them home, or threw them in the trash --- I could see that as stealing. But if the just took them out of the supply closet (and forgot to record it) --- that would be more like forgetfulness than stealing. IDK, maybe I am splitting hairs.
The importance of what happened as that he took them with the intention of stealing in his heart. That is what God sees