Working for what's already mine

He begged for a cap gun.

He got one for his birthday last year, and it broke several months ago. Having recently stumbled upon the remaining caps, Joshua began his quest to obtain a new one.

We saw one in Dollar General a couple of weeks ago, and he begged me to buy it for him. I told him no, that he would have to buy it himself. He begged, bartered, and pleaded. "If you buy it for me now, I'll pay you back when I get the money."

No, you have to have the money in order to buy it.

For the past two weeks, he's schemed and plotted how to come up with the money. On Monday, he was very close . . . only fifty cents shy of the necessary amount. Still, much to his dismay, I would not loan him the rest.

What he did not know is that I had already bought him the cap gun.

Joshua and Ethan were both recognized for having perfect behavior for the whole school year. Not a single color strip, which is the system of discipline used by their school. I thought an entire year of perfect behavior merited a small reward, so I bought them each one of the coveted cap guns to give them when school got out.

Meanwhile Joshua was begging for a loan, lamenting his lack of earning capacity, and just plain feeling sorry for himself.

Because he wasn't able to purchase a gun that someone had already purchased for him.

All he had to do was wait. Just be patient and wait. The prize had already been secured. All of his striving was in vain because the treasure he sought was already his . . . he just couldn't see it yet.

How much like me does that sound? Begging and striving and pleading when God wants me to wait.

To rest.

To be still and know that He is God.

I thought of two verses of one of my favorite hymns based on Psalm 130:

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! Are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth;
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might,

And live alone by mercy
(Live alone by mercy)
And live alone by mercy
(Live alone by mercy)

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;

I wait for it with patience
(Wait for it with patience)
I wait for it with patience
(Wait for it with patience)

(Click here for the rest of the lyrics or on the above link to listen.)