Built to Last

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come.” ~ Hebrews 13:14

Most of the morning had been spent kneeling on the cold concrete floor of my Grandparent’s breezeway. Next to me sat a large wicker basket which held my supply of building blocks. The basket, after almost two full hours of work, was nearly empty.

Laid out carefully in front of me stood a magnificent wooden castle, the result of my loving and careful labor. Gingerly, I added a few small colored blocks to the windows to make them stand out. Then and only then did I finally pause and step back to look. It was marvelous.

Having completed my work, it needed to be appreciated by someone other than me. So, I headed into the main part of the house to find my Grandmother. Passing through the dining room I found my younger brother Fritz playing on the floor. Paying him little attention I continued on into the back bedroom where I found Grandma making the bed. She made me wait for what seemed like an eternity while she finished.

The bed finally made, I grabbed her by the hand and led her out into the hallway. When we reached the dining room, I was in too great a hurry to notice my little brother wasn’t there. Only two rooms left until the big unveiling. I tugged at Grandma’s arm with even greater urgency.

Halfway through the last room (the kitchen) a terrible sound brought me up short. It was the cascading sound of a group of wooden blocks hitting a concrete slab in mass. Immediately, I released my Grandmother’s hand and bolted for the open breezeway door.

The sight I beheld could not have been worse. My magical castle, the efforts of an entire morning, lay in a heap. My younger brother stood in the middle of the devastation; like Godzilla in the middle of Tokyo. In each hand he held one of the colored blocks I had so carefully placed in the windows. He was clacking them together…giggling.

“NOOOOOO,” I wailed. In a moment I was upon him snatching the blocks from his grasp. He sat down with a thump and immediately began to cry. Grandma quickly intervened. “You can build it again, Jimmie,” she said quietly, but firmly. “No I can’t!” I stammered.

By this time Grandma, had picked Fritz up to comfort him. Quickly I whisked the blocks from the floor in armloads, flinging them back into the basket. Then with two kicks I shoved the filled basket against the wall. Still unwilling to be soothed, I stormed out the back door sniveling as I went; wiping my nose on my sleeve.

The wicker basket rotted away long ago and the blocks have succumbed to the fiery furnace. Even the breezeway floor on which I knelt is no longer there, but I still have my brother. Fritz has blessed me with a wonderful sister-in-law and three talented nephews of which I am very proud.

We have cleaned fencerows together; cut, split and loaded fire wood. Every time I venture home to Pennsylvania we always schedule breakfast just to catch up. He is a successful independent business man who can master anything mechanical he puts his mind too. Wooden, building block castles don’t last for long, but our personal relationship has stood the test of time...

All too often, when stewardship is mentioned our minds immediately skip to money, offertory, donations or campaigns. Teaching stewardship through offertory increase programs is a castle made of wooden blocks. It tumbles easily and quickly. Unless we catechize, sanctify and form our lives first, offertory giving is simply an empty gesture.

Just as my personal relationship with my brother has grown over the years, so to must we develop a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This intimate relationship grows through prayer and worship (not guilt and demands). It is within this personal relationship stewardship finds its beginnings.

Once this relationship is established we start to recognize God has gifted us in special ways. As we identify and cultivate these gifts we realize we are a unique creation of God put on this earth for a purpose; to help save the world. We are special and God made us so. With this realization a sense of gratitude develops and grows. (It was not until I became grateful for my brother, that I truly appreciated him.)

Once we become grateful for the many gifts God has given us, the sharing of our time, talent and treasure becomes a natural outgrowth of our faith, rather than a trained or manipulated response.

This Lent, commit to developing a personal relationship with Christ. He will be the best friend you've ever had.

Dear God: Remind me that I can never know myself except through Christ.

“In your heart God has excavated an immense space where he has placed a precious treasure. From now on you have the twofold duty of receiving and giving: sharing the treasure of the kingdom you bear within you and stretching the area of your tent for those around you.” ~Anonymous

© 2011 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

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