Moments after we arrived at the amusement park (Magic Mountain) yesterday, we found a wallet in the parking lot.
There was no question in our minds, we turned it in at lost-and-found.
(It only occurred to me as we were on our way home that if someone lost their wallet in the parking lot then they probably couldn’t pay for tickets to get in, so they couldn’t get to the lost and found to claim their lost wallet. Oh well.)
A little later, my son found $50 lying on the ground (two 20’s and a 10, all folded up tightly together, for those who were wondering). We then had a dilemma.
My immediate thought was to turn the $50 in at lost-and-found. Someone else in our group had a different opinion though – and it went something like this:
Who loses cash at an amusement park and expects that cash to be turned in at the lost-and-found? I mean, seriously, like anyone is going to do that!
So since a lot of people who find Β money wouldn’t turn it in, a lot of people who lose money wouldn’t go ask if it had been turned in. It would just be a waste of time.
The money would just sit there at the lost and found and would eventually probably just become the property of the park, adding to their bottom-line.
We really need the money so, since it’s highly unlikely to be collected at the lost-and-found, why don’t we just treat it as a gift from God and keep it? Maybe we could put it in the tithe box and let it go to feed the homeless?
I, unusually, was adamant though. I turned it in.
Why? Simply because it was the right thing to do. If I had lost that money, I would hope that the finder would turn it in… so surely I should do to others what I would have them do to me. Isn’t that in the bible?
It’s funny how the lines between what is right and wrong, our moral choices, become so blurry when the choice becomes about something of real value.
I know I often fail to make the right choice. Father help me keep your word in my heart and always do what is right no matter how hard it may be.
Let’s go with the premise that it was a gift from God that just fell from the heavens for you. Is God so helpless that after you turn it in, He can’t get it back for you? I really don’t picture God taking His crayons and going home because you thought it was lost money, rather than money raining from the sky just for you. IF (really big if there) that’s what it was, I see God as having a good belly laugh, and then finding another way to get it to you. I think He’d find that game delightful!
That is an interesting one! Gray areas are always fun to navigate. π It would be nice if the Bible had a rule for every situation, but then it wouldn’t be about relationship…
Oh yeah, what if God meant for you to restore a cynic’s faith in humanity. π
Jason is right about the gray areas! Rules don’t cover them. That is where discernment comes in. Discernment is the Word and Spirit working their way in our lives, leading us in God’s way. Part of that means putting ourselves in the situation of another person. In this case, that means thinking what it might have been like for young mother and father who saved for 6 months to take their kids to the amusement park! Good decision. wb
I think this premise is similar to giving money to a panhandler. There is a probability (some say a high one) that they will use the money to buy drugs or booze, but if the Holy Spirit is prompting you towards your actions, then I say go with that. But yes, discernment is a very valuable gift indeed. Plus, it was a good teaching moment for your kids.
Excellent teaching moment.
My son prayed the sweetest prayer that the people would think of going to the lost and found to claim it!
Peter,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and responding. I have recently been periodically stopping by here to read your insights and I am always enlightened when I do so. I like your blog.
Christy Rose
Thanks Christy Rose. It’s always encouraging to know that people are reading my blog!
I have had your blog open on my computer for a few days now and have only just gotten around to reading and commenting. I’m sorry!
Peter just so you know I DID lose, not money, but my bank card, I.D, AAA card , med card and something else it all feel out of my back pocket some time when I was paying for somthing or looking for something either in the parking lot of MM or at In-n-out on our way home (yeah thanks to you I started craving In-N-Out lol) oh wait if I did lose it at In-N-Out I wasn’t saying I blame you in anyway. I may never know where I lost it, We called In-N-Out but no one had turned in any cards at all and Dave is going to check when he goes to work tomorrow. Prayers would be appreciated and with Dave having the car I’m not sure how I will be able to take care of everything Monday if I need to cancel and get all new cards.
Anyways, I honestly have to say when your son found that money I thought it was just $10 and was thinkning I wasn’t sure why you wouldn’t let him keep it. but then I found out it was &50 and thought “wow thats hard” I too agree that it most likely will end up going to the park but thats actually irrelevant the important thing was you did what you knew was right and I truely believe you will be blessed for that. AND if its God will then that person did go asking and did get the money back and I am sure that will have made an impression in that person’s life and who knows maybe you were just the first step in that persons journey towards something great …something more than you can imagine. And you will probably never know But whats important is God knows, He knows your heart.
oh and just totally off the subject if the offer still stands Dave says Thursday is a go. Thanks π
*fell
and can’t you put a spell checker in your blog… please! π
Hi Erin,
I’m sorry you lost your stuff!
Yeah, we’re on for Thursday!
Thank you but I guess its not the end of the world.
and YAY! I can’t wait.
AND lol I see you ignored the plea (begging actually) for a spell checker) are you just being mean or thats not a possiblity? π