So my colleague with the barren lilac bush is pondering getting plastic lilac blossoms and decorating her blossomless shrub. I suggested that she visit a five and dime (do they still exist?) and get a bottle of cheap lilac-scented cologne. Each morning she could go out and spray the plastic flowers. Who would know? Only those extremely few who would ever get close enough could tell the difference; that is unless she leaves them on into July. Then anyone would know.
So I think you can guess what I was thinking about this afternoon. Could I, could you, could anyone fake being a Christian? Could we decorate our lives with phony deeds of charity and love? Well, the deeds would be real but the motive would be the fake part. We could make sure, like the Pharisee in Matthew 6, that we have lots of cameras around when we make our donations. We could get our picture in the paper handing a giant check to our school or church or community center. We could make sure our picture is taken when nailing up a stud during a Habitat for Humanity Project; or get our picture taken while being surrounded by lots of little African children while we play the big rich American passing out used clothes.
Who would know? Let me tell you who would know. We would. God would and Jesus could say to us, “I never knew you.” How horrible it would be to hear those words. It has been my privilege for several years now to have people send Spring of Life funds to give to needy students with the donor requesting total anonymity. I tell the students I am only a conduit. The real giver just wants to share. How grand.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 13, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org