$50

So it was a few weeks ago, learning something new each day. Getting ready to leave to go up to Cran Hill to lead devotions and start another week of ministry. Put everything I need in the car, I pop the trunk and have to put one more thing in the trunk. Go around the back of the car and lift teh trunk up, to which I heard the sound of the alarm on the car. to which I heard the sound of the car doors locking. To which I think, my keys are in the car. I was ready to go, I had everything ready. To which I became downcast and mad and frustrated. I just locked my keys in my car in my driveway and I do not have an extra set of keys. I am dutch and frugal and I can get into my car no problem, right? Nope. After trying for 20 minutes to break into my car I succumb to making that call. The call to the wrecker company to come and get my keys. After waiting another 20 minutes for him to come and then just 2 minutes for him to get my keys. I have lost $50. I have lost that money I cannot get back. What else have I lost? Pride. What have I gained? embarrassment, a story to tell and others to tell about me. A lesson, keep your keys in your pocket and you are all set. Was the gain better than the lost? I don't know it was $50. If I loose that again then there is something wrong with me. All this brings me to a passage in scripture where Paul talks about loosing and gaining. Philippians 3:8. To which I read and ask myself, what have I lost for the kingdom of God? What have I intentionally given up and looked at as a loss? A loss sticks with you, to loose a football game you remember it, to loose money you remember it. To gain a lesson, is much greater than the loss. What did Paul loose? he lost his career of killing Christians. he was the most feared terrorist of Christians in his time, he lost that to gain what? prison? death? life forever? He lost to gain for the kingdom. What have I lost for God's sake? In my flesh have I deliberately given something up? I have to ask these questions for me and wonder what have I done? What have you done? what is it that you need to loose for God's sake? to gain so much more. I now look back on that day in August when I lost $50 and thank God for loosing that to gain an image into the gospel, a lesson to keep my keys with me. I think I have gained so much more in that loss. To loose to gain, where am I in all that? That is the question to ponder and think about.