Published 9/8/19
By Greg Johnson
What If...
It’s the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Dad comes into your room and asks if you’ve bought or made anything for Mom. After giving him a blank stare, you say, “For what?”
“For Mother’s Day tomorrow. Don’t you remember?”
“Oh, yes, Mother’s Day,” you reply. “Not yet . . . but . . . I’m going to the mall later with some friends. I’ll pick something up then.”
“Do you have enough money?” he asks.
“Well . . . that depends on what I get her. How nice a present does it have to be?”
“Listen,” he says in that serious tone you’ve heard before, “your mom works pretty hard around here taking care of all of us. I think she deserves something nice from you. How much money do you have?”
After checking you tell him five dollars.
Dad says, “Five dollars! You can barely buy a card with that. I’ll tell you what. I’ll loan you twenty dollars. You can pay me back by doing a few extra chores over the next two months. Get her something nice, OK?”
“Right, Dad. Umm . . . any suggestions?”
“Well, she likes flowers, perfume, and then there’s that craft stuff she never seems to have enough of. Be creative. Ask your friends.”
Taking the money from Dad, you promise to bring back something nice.
As you walk through the stores, you see some things you’d like for yourself. You think, There must be something nice and cheap I can get Mom. Then I’ll have enough to get a couple of those posters I’ve wanted.
You find a card and pick up a small Precious Moments figurine at Hallmark. Together they cost only $9.54! Now you have enough to buy those posters.
Questions to Think On
• If this actually did occur, what would be your problem? (Selfishness? Greed?)
• In your own honest opinion of yourself, is there anything you feel you’re selfish in?
• When you think of a selfish person, what comes to mind?
• Why is it sometimes hard to be unselfish, even when you want to be?
• What are some ways to work on being a more unselfish person?
What Does God Have to Say?
A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27
The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. Proverbs 21:25-26
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