When my wife and I fly somewhere she always gets me a window seat and herself the aisle seat, which means there is a stranger sitting between us. I think I remember the pastor who married us saying something about let no man come between. Anyway it is quite fun to note when the person in the middle discovers we are together. That person always, I mean always, lights up and ever so generously offers to trade places with one of us so we can sit together. At that point the light goes out of their eyes as they realize they are doomed to the center seat with no place to put their drowsing head.
There is no question but that it is easy to be generous when we get something good out of it. I once had a guy pay me twenty dollars to trade seats so he could sit beside a young lady he was wooing. I was happy to accommodate. Now you are wondering why I took the money and didn’t just trade seats out the goodness of my heart. I figured he would get lots of mileage with her when she saw how much it was worth to him to sit beside her. Isn’t it great how we can spin things?
Life works best when winning or gain is reciprocal. When both people walk away feeling satisfied because they have gotten something good makes for happiness all around. When Jesus died on the cross He gave so much it is difficult for us to understand what He got out of it. However, according to Scripture He gained the right to give you and me eternal life. I find it difficult to understand why He thinks that is a good trade. But I am not going to argue. I love what we got. And He loves what He got.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 5, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org