I remember hearing this true incident that happened in a church in the US. Let me share it with you. One Sunday after the church got over, the treasurers gathered together to count the offering money. As they were doing so, to their shock they found two halves of a fifty dollar note in the offering bag. Without wasting anytime they quickly informed the pastor; and he was obviously dismayed at what he saw. After a small discussion they concluded that somebody must have put it by mistake and soon they all dispersed.
However next Sunday, as the treasurers sat to count the offering, again they saw another fifty dollar note, perfectly torn into two in the offering bag. This continued for couple more Sundays. Now it was indeed a serious matter and the pastor was furious.
In his next service, the pastor announced to the church about what was happening. His words were filled with anger, “Who is behind this? Don’t you have any respect for God? Don’t you know Jesus is watching? Consider this as a warning-You can’t play with Him.”
The congregation was equally shocked and there were uncanny whispers all around. Alas! At the end of the service, when offering was being counted, the same thing happened! Someone obviously did not bother to listen to the warning, nor seemed scared! The mystery seemed unnerving with each passing week.
A couple of days later one lady came to the pastor’s office and narrated this: Pastor, I really want to apologize for the torn bills in the offering bag. My three year old son is behind this. It so happens that every time you announce to the church to put their offering in the bag, I handover a fifty dollar note to my son to put his share. But next to him stands another three year old girl, who he sees has nothing to put. So he tears the note, gives her one half and then they both happily put the torn notes in the offering bag.
Did this bring a smile to your face? Well little ones always bring joy to our lives, and often teach us important lessons too. I really love it how the small boy didn’t understand the value of money, but amazingly for his age what he did understand was the value of a need! And for him the value of a need was more than the value of the money in his hand. Am wondering, why is it that when we grow the equation changes? Let’s learn to value other’s needs above ours. Isn’t that what Jesus did?