A HAY RIDE INVITE

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have - Hebrews 13:16a (ESV)

      It was a beautiful afternoon as Helen Gray and Tracy McDonald strolled through the park. “Won’t it be nice when spring finally gets here?” Helen asked Tracy. “I can’t wait.” Tracy told Helen, “I love helping my Dad drive the tractors around in the field.” “Will you get to drive the tractor this weekend?” Helen asked as they turned to walk back towards the picnic area.

     “No, my Dad is going to.” Tracy responded, “I want to stay on the hay wagon with the rest of the kids.” “It sure is nice of your dad to offer to host a hay ride.” Helen told Tracy, “It will be a good way for the people of the church to get to know the two of you better, and for you to know them.”

     “We’ve been here for months.” Tracy said, “And there are still lots of kids I haven’t met yet. I know I saw that orange haired boy standing over there in church last Sunday but I have know idea who he is.” “I’ve have no idea either.” Helen told Tracy, “I’ve never seen him before.” “It sounds like he’s crying” Tracy said, “Maybe we should go see if he’s okay.”

     As the two of them walked over to Joel, Helen called out to him to see if he was okay and ask why he was crying. “I’m not crying. Coooool kids don’t cry.” Joel cried out, “I got something in my eye.” “Can I look at your eye?” Helen asked as she walked over to him. “NO!” Joel shouted at her, “Go Away! I can do it myself!”

     “Why aren’t you with your friends?” Tracy asked “Because, I...I...I...I... Don’t have any friend.” Joel said and started to cry some more. “You don’t!” Tracy said a little surprised, “Would you like to make some? You could come to a hay ride next Saturday afternoon. It will be a lot of fun and you might make some friends.”

     “That would be a great idea.” Helen piped in, “There is going to be lots of kids there and games to play and food to eat, and” “FOOD! Did you say FOOD?” Joel interrupted. “So, you like food,” Helen responded. “Maybe you’ll like my Grandson Harold Peterson!” “I think I already met him.” Joel said, “By the way, I’m Joel Brady and I’m a coooool dude.”

     For the next hour, Helen and Tracy shared a little more about themselves, learned more about what a “dude” was and told Joel how he could get to the hay ride. When Joel left he was no longer crying and was definitely thinking about going to the hay ride.

     Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

Luke 14:12-13 (NCV)

     As Christian's we have much to share with the world and the Bible reminds us that we are to be a sharing people:

• Isaiah 58:7 - Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours, and don’t refuse to help your own relatives. (NCV)
• 1 Timothy 6:18 - Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. (NCV)
• Hebrews 13:16 - Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

     Many time people will go out of their way to host an event such as a hay ride so as to be able to invite, to share with, people who are not christian in a way that creates opportunities to share even more.

• Galatians 6:10a - When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. (NCV)
• Colossians 4:5-6 - Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. (NCV)

     The ultimate goal for sharing with others, I think, should be to create opportunity to be a witness for Christ, to lift up Christ so He may draw others to Himself.

      Here's Something to Ponder

• How do you share what you have?
• What purpose do you have in sharing with others?