8 Aug, 2006
It's the Right Thing To Do
DETROIT - A homeless man who returned $21,000 worth of saving bonds he found in a trash bin is finding out how much honesty can pay off.
Charles Moore, 59, had been searching for returnable bottles last week when he came across the 31 U.S. savings bonds. He turned them in to a homeless shelter, where a staff member tracked down the family of the man who had owned them.
For his good deed, the bond owner’s son gave Moore $100, but residents around Michigan and in other states decided his action merited a more generous reward. So far, Moore has received over $4,000.
One man sent him eight trash bags full of returnable bottles and a bowl of coins. Three others gave a combined $2,500, and two businessmen from Troy donated $1,200, a shopping spree and a lead on a job.
“I was thankful for it,” said Moore, who had lost his roofing job in Ohio and moved back to Michigan but couldn’t find work.
Moore said he plans to use the money to find an apartment.
David C. Smith, of Albuquerque, N.M., gave Moore $1,000. Smith said he and his fiancée wouldn’t have thought twice about what to do if the bonds had belonged to them.
“We would have given him the whole amount, period,” Smith said. “No questions asked.”
photo courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy twincities.com, 8/4/06
James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (ESV)
Yesterday, our DAILYBIDE looked at the sin of stealing, which is obviously wrong. But today, we see a different angle on sin. James teaches us that knowing the right thing to do and then not doing it - it's sin! Sometimes these two kinds of sin are called sins of commission and sins of omission.
Let's be honest. How many of us would have returned $21,000 worth of saving bonds if we found them in a trash can? Evidently, someone just didn't want these bonds anymore, right? Or, couldn't we just think of it as God giving us a surprise blessing? Wrong!
The homeless man did the right thing. If he had not, according to James 4:17, he would be guilty of sin. Not only is he receiving money from people who don't even know him, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that he did what's right. Another example of a sin of omission would be when we know the truth, but don't tell it.
Or, we know that we shouldn't tear others down with our comments, but if we know someone who needs our friendship and we don't talk to them, aren't we guilty of knowing the right thing to do and not doing it? When Jesus shows us the right thing to do, will we?
- Pray right now. Thank God for His practical Word. Confess anything that the Holy Spirit points out to you that is an example of knowing the right thing to do, but not doing it. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask His Spirit to give you the desire to follow His leading in all of your actions every day.
- Memorize James 4:17 to help you remember to do the right thing. Pray every day for Jesus to increase your sensitivity to follow through on doing what you know is right.
- Start looking in trash cans for money! Seriously, for the next couple of weeks, whenever you see a trash can, let Jesus remind you about doing the right thing.
- Pray every day for Jesus to help you see the right thing to do for others and then do it.
- Whenever you are with friends, there are always situations that come up when you must decide if you are going to do the right thing. For example, another student is sitting alone in the lunch room. Take the lead and go sit with this person. Or, a teacher is trying to move equipment and a bunch of you are standing nearby. What will you do? Or, someone you work with is looking discouraged. Will you ask a question and listen? Or....(you fill in the blank)....
- If you take the lead on doing the right thing, be ready for conversation about why? Again, this is another great opportunity for you to talk a little bit about your story of Jesus being in your life.
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