The Coffee Wasn't Enough.

This past Tuesday morning in my devotions I was challenged to do something generous for someone. So when I went to Tims Hortons to get a coffee before work, I saw a gentleman hanging outside that I thought could use a pick me up. When I went in to order a coffee, I order one for him. I went outside and I gave it to him. He seemed very pleased and wanted to know how I knew he needed this. I told him that I felt God wanted me to buy it for him. He then asked if I had a vehicle so that he could get a drive somewhere. I told him that I was walking to work. He asked where I worked so that he could walk with me. For those of you who don't know, I am currently working on a production line for the local paper in Moncton. I told him sure.

As we began walking together, I quickly learn that the coffee wasn't going to be enough for him. The phrase he kept using in the conversation was "Hey do you want to do something better?" He asked me to give him $30 dollars for an electric cigarette that he was selling( I honestly thought it looked like a crack pipe). I told him that I wasn't interested in it because I don't smoke. He thought that it should stop me from giving him the money because I could just sell it to someone else. He told me he needed $30 because he was trying to get back to Shediac. I told him I wasn't interested.

When that didn't work, he told me I should give him $20 for something to eat because he slept in the park and had no food. I told him I don't have that, but I gave him $6 dollars that I had in my pocket. He wanted me to know that he was having a hard time. I told him I can relate to that because my family and I were going through one ourselves. We were a family of 5, I was a pastor in between churches, and was only able to find part-time work at Brunswick news.

As we crossed the road, he noticed a gas station and said his favourite line, "Hey do you want to do something better? It is my birthday today, I could really use a pack of smokes." I found that funny considering he had a couple of vapour cigarettes on him. I told him I couldn't afford that. He replied by saying that it could be a really cheap pack of cigarettes. I responded by reminding him that we are going through a difficult time too. He didn't like that answer. I told him that I had to get going to work and then we parted ways.

This was an awkward interaction with this man. I simply wanted to bless him with a coffee, but he wanted more. If I am honest, I thought at one point that he was going to rob me. He told me his name was Johnny, but I don't know if that was his real name or if his backstory was even true. All I know is that I believed God wanted me to buy this man a coffee and I wanted to be obedient in that. I strived to be as gracious and compassionate in my interactions with him, but at the same time, I wasn't going to be a pushover and do something I didn't feel comfortable doing. However, after my interactions with this man, I asked God what it was he wanted me to take away from this experience with Johnny.

Here are a few things that came to mind:

1) Always be prepared to give more than you anticipate.

I don't think God wanted me to give the man everything in my bank account, but if I was better prepared, I could have blessed this man with more than a coffee and $6. Sometimes the initial need and the giving is an opportunity to help out in a greater way. I experienced this first hand as a result of the difficult season that my family and I have been going through. There have been people who have come alongside us to bless us and give to us. It was through their initial giving that they learned other ways they could bless id. The reality is that there will always be someone who will want to take advantage of our giving, but that shouldn't stop us from giving altogether. That is why I think we need to ask God to help us discern the situations and trust his leading.

Hebrews 13:2- Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!


Titus 3:1- Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

2) The man had deeper needs that only God could address

After only a few minutes with this gentleman, I quickly learn that no matter what I did for this man, it wasn't going to be enough for him. There was always going to be something "even better" that I could do for him. I could have given him the $30 dollars for the e-cigarette. I could have given him $20 dollars for food. I could have bought him a pack of smokes. Chances are, he would have found something else I could have done because he had deeper needs that only God could address. There is a satisfaction that this man is looking for that wasn't going to be found in what I could give him because only God can truly satisfy the longing of his heart.

Psalm 16:11-You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

3) I am not much different than this man.

If I am honest, the way this man interacted with me, is not much different than how I have acted with God over the years. God has blessed me in so many ways over the years. He has provided for my family and me in miraculous ways. However, I have caught myself quickly asking God for more. As if I was telling him that he could do something "even better" because what he just did wasn't enough. It is true he can do something better because scripture tells us he can do more than we can ask or imagine, but we need to be satisfied and grateful with how he has chosen to bless us. Our deepest need is not the giving, it is the giver, God himself. The giving is always meant to reflect his grace, his character, and points us to our need for him.

This is what God has been challenging me with this week: Is he enough for me? Is he enough if our financial situation never improves? Is he enough if we don't get a bigger place to live? Is he enough if I never become a pastor of a church again? The answer needs to be YES! I am thankful that God loves me enough that he has taken us through circumstances in order for that reality to be worked out in us. 

Psalm 73:26- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

So I ask you, is God enough for you? Are you constantly telling him to do something better or are you allowing his gifts to do what they are meant to do; which is to find our satisfaction in him.