Cash money. A strange concept these days.
I have been transported back many years just in the last week. I have actually needed and used cash. Yes, cold hard currency in both paper and coin form. That is a strange thing today. It came about by happenstance. I wanted to register for a one-day course. Naturally, there was the option to use a credit card. There was no provision for debit or other types of wallets and e-transfers. I called and said I had no credit cards. (And that's another story.) I was told I could send a cheque. Now there's a flash from the past. Instantly I heard my mom's voice saying, "The cheque is in the mail". No, I do not have cheques. Now what?
I was then advised that I could bring cash. Another antiquated way of doing business. So, that is what I am doing. Taking cash. On Friday night I did something that seemed even odder to me. I paid for my Tim Horton's order with a $5 bill and some pocket change. That's when I came full stop for some moments. I remember a gospel lesson we read in church not very long ago. Matthew 22:15-22. (This encounter is also in Mark 12 and Luke 20.) God had my attention.
Because, there has been a lot of money talk in our province and nation just lately.
"I can't afford to pay the bills and feed my family."
"I cannot find affordable housing and that is with both of us working full-time."
" We pay too much into CPP."
"I am pausing the carbon tax on heating fuels for 3 years."
The list goes on and on. And at this point, many people would be saying, "Money is the root of all evil." Not true. This is a misquote of 1 Timothy 6. I commend it to your attention.
The way to fix this is how we Christians did it in the early church; share. Like in Acts 4. Note especially the end of the chapter. This appears again at the beginning of Acts 6 when there is a problem to be addressed. We share the tax burden so that there are benefits for all. We share our blessings with God and Jesus for the work of the kingdom. We are promised many riches from God when we do (Luke 6). So where do you and I need to share our blessings this week? Pr. Scott
