DayBreaks for 10/04/12 – The Jerk and Me
The movie, The Jerk, tells the story of Navin Johnson (played by Steve Martin), a man whose quirky invention takes him from rags to riches—and then back to rags. Just after losing his fortune in a single court case, Navin’s life is falling apart. His marriage is on the rocks, and he’s in the process of leaving his extravagant lifestyle behind. Nonetheless, he stubbornly insists he doesn’t need any of it anyway. The problem is, his actions betray his convictions. As he stumbles around the room, he grabs hold of a number of insignificant things. By the time he’s made it to the door, his arms are filled with material items—all while protesting wildly that he doesn’t need anything. His words tell it all:
“Well, I’m going to go then!” Navin yells. “And I don’t need any of this! I don’t need this stuff, and I don’t need you. I don’t need anything except this [picks up an ashtray] and that’s it. And that’s the only thing I need—this. I don’t need this or this—just this ashtray. And this paddle game. The ashtray and the paddle game, and that’s all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, the remote control, and that’s all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, these matches, the remote control, and the paddleball. And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game, the remote control, the lamp, and that’s all I need.
“And that’s all I need, too!” Navin continues. “I don’t need one other thing—not one. I need this (picks up a chair)! The paddle game, the chair, the remote control, and the matches, for sure. And this! And that’s all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine, and the chair.”
I don’t know if the writers of the movie were trying to make a serious point or just be funny, but it is a rather tragic scene if you think about it carefully.
It’s easy to say that I’ve given everything I have and am to God…but our actions often betray the truth about us. I could easily describe my life and walk with God something like this: “I have given it all to Him, and I have held nothing back. Except my bank account. That’s all I’ve kept, I don’t need anything else. Just my bank account…and my job. That’s all I have held back…I’m sure He understands. I’ve only kept my bank account and my job…and my expensive vacations. Other than those things, I’ve given my all to Jesus. Those things, and lust…and I have given Him all the rest.”
The only problem is, I’ve not given Him my all if I’ve held anything back.
What are you holding back?
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; – Mt. 10:37
PRAYER: Jesus, I know, in spite of all my protestations, that I have held back parts of my life, thinking them either too precious to give up, or that I can run those parts of my life better than you can. Forgive my foolishness, pardon my sin, break my heart…and let me give you ALL! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright 2012 by Galen C. Dalrymple.
If you are looking for a way to help needy, you can give through I Am 2 Partners, Inc. (where Galen works), to provide food, water, shelter and care for 37 orphans at Bright Future Children’s Home in Migori, Kenya: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=RKR8ZNZX4UVPA
OR, to help pay for a purified water system for the only pediatric hospital in Rwanda (the hospital is nearing completion of construction, but can’t open until the water purification system is in place): https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B7U2JA5QSYCRC
To subscribe to DayBreaks, use this link: https://daybreaksdevotions.wordpress.com and click on the Subscribe button at the right of the page. If you wish to unsubscribe, at the bottom of each email you receive about DayBreaks, you should find an “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email.
DayBreaks Devotions 