Teacheable Moment at Unity Chirstian Music Festival

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

The other day at Unity Christian Music Festival, where Camp Living Waters had the privilege of setting up a display and promoting camp to thousands of people. I felt like I needed to take a walk. I headed over near the main stage and watched the group that was performing. God revealed a great teachable moment to me. I was leaning against the tree listening to the worship and people watching. I greeted several acquaintances and was searching the crowd for friends. I saw a couple walking down the sidewalk coming toward me. The women pulled something out of her pocket and a wad of money fell to the ground behind her. She kept walking and headed to her seat. I decided to watch and see what would happen. A teenage boy and his girl friend were walking along about 20 feet behind the women who dropped the money. The boy looked around picked up the money and put it in his pocket and headed past where I was standing. I said "the money you just picked up and put in your pocket belongs to the women standing over there". She was now looking for the money that she had lost. The boy looked at me and said yea I was going to take it over to the lost and found and he handed it to me. There was well over $100 in the folded  bills he handed me. I walked over to the women and gave her money back to her. She was very grateful.

As I reflected on the situation several thoughts came to mind.

1. Did the boy feel any remorse or regret for trying to keep the money that he saw fall from the ladies pocket?
2.  Did his girl friend say anything to him?
3. How many other people saw this unfold and did nothing?
4. Was there a time in my life that I would have done the same thing?
5. Who is watching me when I think no one is around?

I really don't know what the boy was thinking, but I do know that he saw the money drop from the women's pocket and put it in his with the intention of keeping it. He then lied when he was caught by saying he was going to take it to lost and found. I hope that God worked in his life that night by reminding him of what he did and that the next time faced with the same temptation that he would choose the right choice and return the money to the women himself. I would have loved to be able to sit and watch to see what would have happened if I had not intervened. I did not see if the girlfriend talked to her boy friend about his actions. I needed to get the money back to the woman before I lost her in the crowd. I wish I could have taken the time to talk with the boy.

Then I got to thinking that scripture says that God is always watching us. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. He knows what we are doing good or bad. We will be judged for everything we have done. I am also thankful that Christ died for me that I might be forgiven if I trust in Him.

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