Empty Pockets
By Gene Markland
Old Joe sits on the edge
of his bed and struggles with arthritic hands to fasten the cufflink on his
shirtsleeve. He does pretty well for a 91-year-old man. The people at the
assisted living center help him into his wheelchair, for the church bus is soon
coming. Today is a special missions Sunday service and Joe hasn’t missed one in
82 years.
As they roll him toward
the door, he reaches over to a small wooden box sitting on his bureau. He takes
something out and puts it in his change purse. Returning the empty box to its
place, he leaves for the bus.
Later at church, he sits
in his wheelchair at the end of the front row, and his mind is flooded with
memories. The singing ends and the Pastor begins his sermon about the
missionaries they support, some of which are in attendance.
Again Joe’s memories take
him back, to a time in his childhood at the age of nine. He sat in this same
church on this same missions Sunday, and listened to songs calling men to
service for God, and testimonies of the glorious works of God overseas. When
they passed the offering plate, though inspired, young Joe had nothing to give.
This saddened him, so on that day he purposed in his heart to never again have
empty pockets when the missions offering plate is passed around.
So young Joe got himself a
paper route and the next year he placed a brand new silver dollar in the
missions offering. Every year thereafter, Joe continued to give. The church
grew and prospered and so did Joe. It seemed like the more Joe gave, the more
he prospered and the more he prospered, the more he gave.
Years passed and he became
a successful manufacturer, owning his own factory. As hard as he tried, he
couldn’t out-give God. Missions' projects flourished around the world for years
through his giving, and God blessed him in all his ways.
In time, Joe retired, sold
his factory and enjoyed his latter years with his beloved wife Bernice. Now she
is with the Lord and his possessions have been reduced to one small room in an
assisted living center. Through insurance, his expenses are paid but he has no
income and therefore no spending money. So, after all those years of blessing
and wealth, old Joe sits in the mission’s service once again with empty
pockets.
He thinks back to his
first wedding anniversary, the mint condition silver dollar dated the year of
their marriage that Bernice gave him, and the small wooden box he kept it in
all those years. Today, old Joe would reach beyond his empty pockets and into
his change purse.
As the Pastor prayed over
the special missions offering, Joe struggled with knarled bony fingers to open
the clasp on his small change purse. He reached inside and held his treasure
tightly between his thumb and forefinger. As the offering plate was presented
to him, he held his feeble hand over it and raised his thumb to reveal that
precious silver dollar that Bernice had given him so long ago.
A tear rolled down his
cheek as he lovingly placed his last offering in the plate for the Lord. His
pockets are empty once again. As the service continued, Joe’s hands rested in his
lap and his chin rested on his chest. Joe entered his rest and his reward.
I suppose as he entered
heaven he was met by his heavenly Father, who embraced him and said, “Son, you
started with empty pockets and ended with empty pockets, but in between, you
have been faithful. Multitudes of souls rejoice here today because of your
generosity. Like the widow who gave all she had, though small, it was counted
as great. So well done Son! Great is your reward in heaven, and you don’t
need pockets!”
“I tell you the truth,”
Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.
For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has
given everything she has” (Luke 21:3-4 NLT).
You can contact Gene at
gene@zzzeroproducts.com
