LightGrams
February 14 2019
Volume 23, Number 7
Cathy McAllister was just doing her job, the same as she had been doing for the past six years. She volunteers her time in Phoenix, Arizona going through donated books that ultimately are sold at the state fair for charities. When she came to a copy of Gibbons’ “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” she was about to throw it out. For some reason she decided to leaf through it before tossing it.
She found a hollowed-out section in the book containing four bundles of $100 bills; the total was $4,000. She first thought it was Monopoly money, but realized it was real. A letter placed inside the book quickly led her to the man who had donated the book, and the money was soon reunited with him.
Many probably think McAllister is crazy for returning the money. How many times have we heard the children’s rhyme – “Finders’ keepers, losers’ weepers!” Tough luck to the guy who gave away the money! McAllister responded, “My values were grounded in our faith – that the church taught us what was right and wrong. It just becomes who you are after a while,” she said to reporters. Read the full story by clicking here.
My first thought after reading this story was about how the Bible contains riches that many never discover. Proverbs 3:13,14 makes this point: “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.” Take time to read and understand the Bible and you’ll discover a treasure! But millions simply toss this great Book away.
I’d like to focus more on the actions of this volunteer worker. She had $4,000 of easy money in her hand. She could have slipped the bills into her purse and no one would have ever known. Why would she pass on such a windfall that had come to her?
Here’s one clear teaching God gave to His people in Deuteronomy 22:1-3: “You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if you brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself.”
If you didn’t know about that passage, then discover that and other treasures in God’s word. There are many things God teaches that will make this a better world. “Finder’s keepers” doesn’t help people who have lost valuable items, but honesty will. We’re thankful for Cathy McAllister’s reminder about what is most valuable in life.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2019, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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