Instructions (not) Included

I read the order off the screen of my phone word for word for the girl behind the counter.

"Two shakes, and two sundaes ... oh, and let's see - there's a note here that says, 'Make sure to put napkins in the cups so nothing gets in them'."

I stopped, confused, and read the line several times again to myself.  Yes, that was what it said.  But what did it MEAN? I looked up at the food service worker.  "Soooo .... like, you want me to put napkins in the cups and then pour the shake over them.....??"

As tempted as I was to default back to my usual, "I'm just the deliverer!" I knew it wouldn't work this time. This time I was also the person receiving instructions and making the entire order. Which was why I was getting paid more.

"Um ..... you know what?  I have no idea what this customer is saying here.  Just forget the napkins thing." It must have been okay, because this customer seemed happy with his delivery. I thought it was odd - he lives a couple blocks away.  I would just walk. It would be faster and cheaper. But, it gives me a job, so...

Sometimes, I feel the same way with God's Word.  "I'm just the deliverer!"  And I am - but as with the food delivery job, I have to get it right. With my food delivery, if I get it wrong, the customer will be upset, I'll lose my tip, and with the current situation being that there are companies offering competition to us, we could lose that customer altogether.  But if I get God's Word delivery wrong, the stakes are so much higher!

James 3:1 (ESV) "Not many of you should become teachers ["deliverers"?], for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." One who is a teacher is always held to a higher standard. While I may not be the one who made God's laws, and am only the one "delivering" the word to others, I need to be constantly aware of the importance of getting it right, especially when souls are at stake.

Searching

Time was passing by as I drove up and down Providence Rd., through side streets, and around in circles in parking lots, futilely seeking the restaurant I was supposed to pick up from. GPS had brought me into a parking lot, in front of a market, and then declared, "You have arrived at your destination!"

This prompted an, "I've arrived?  Where??" from me, since I was not supposed to be at a Whole Foods market. For the next 20 minutes - probably longer - I drove, searched every building, looked at a directory in a parking lot, questioned people in the parking lot, and finally even called the customer ... she didn't answer.  In a final bid, I got out of the car and asked at what must have been a very high end diamond store - one that was locked when I first walked up to it.

They knew where this restaurant was, and it turned out to be in an inner area, no view to the street, no signage, and didn't even have their name on the directory.  I questioned them on this as I picked up the order (late), commenting that nobody knew where they were. The food service worker simply pointed at the order and said, "Somebody know!" Well - can't argue with logic like that.

Jesus spoke of searching as well. He told a parable about the Kingdom, in which a merchant searched all his career for a perfect pearl (Matt. 13:45-46). He found one, and was willing to give up everything else he had to buy that one perfect pearl, because nothing else would be better. He could stop searching.

There are many out there searching for meaning in their lives. In the Old Testament, wise Solomon also searched for meaning, and had the means to try everything the world offers.  He found that wine, sex, money, power, fame, knowledge, and strength were not the key - and in the end he said, "Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: fear God, and keep his commands, for this is the whole of man." (Ecc. 12:13)  Man can not be whole until he follows God.  When this "pearl" - symbolizing God's Kingdom - is shown to man, if he truly understands he will be willing to give all he has to gain it.