It was cold, very cold, one night many years ago. Jimmy stood by his small newsstand on the corner trying to sell papers. There was hardly anyone on the street that night. Those passing by were bundled up against the cold wind, hurrying to get inside. No one wanted to stop long enough to buy a paper.
Jimmy wanted to buy a cup of coffee to help him warm up. His clothes were old and nearly worn out, and his coat was not very warm. But he did not even have a nickel, and that is what a cup of coffee would cost. If only he could sell a paper.
Here comes another man, he thought as he shivered again. “Buy a paper, mister?” he asked.
The man looked at Jimmy. “I don’t need a paper,” he said, “but would you like some money to buy a cup of coffee?”
“I sure would,” replied Jimmy. “That’s why I wanted to sell you a paper.” The man pulled a handful of change out of his pocket and handed it to Jimmy saying, “Take one piece of money.”
Jimmy picked out a nickel and said, “Thank you, sir,” and turned to go to a nearby restaurant. Then thinking about it, he turned back to the man who still stood holding the handful of money. “Did you say I could have one piece of money?” he asked. “Could I have a dime?”
“Yes,” replied the man. “I told you that you could have one piece of money.”
Jimmy put the nickel back and took a dime. But there is a quarter and there is a fifty-cent piece, he thought, still looking at the handful of money. “Mister, could I have the fifty-cent piece?”
“Yes. I told you that you could have one piece of money,” the kind man repeated.
Jimmy put the dime back and took the fifty-cent piece, the biggest piece of money in the man’s hand. “Thank you,” he said again and turned to leave.
“Wait a minute,” said the man. “I am glad you took the biggest piece. That’s what I wanted you to take, but you took the smaller piece first. Did you know that God has many gifts for us? You use them every day. He gives you air to breathe, food, a home, a mother and father — many things that you take for granted.
“But God has a much better gift for you. He wants you to accept this gift — His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you will receive His best gift, believing that you are a sinner and that Christ died on the cross for your sins, He will give you everlasting life. There will be a home ready for you in heaven, besides His other gifts to you while you are here on earth. Won’t you accept His best gift now and thank Him?”
Have you accepted God’s “biggest piece of money” — His gift?
ML-01/15/2012