One Free Quarter

I recently met a man that said, “nothing in this life is free.” I tend to agree with that to an extent. There is usually a price paid by someone, whether it be by Christ’s work on the cross, clocking in from 9 to 5 at the office, or other ways. 

Colossians 3 is full of so much great truth. It is very applicable to this season. It starts off by saying in verse one and two to “seek things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” That is often easier said than done. But when this happens it can bring a freedom that can only be experienced through such a mindset. 

I met the man who said “nothing in this life is free” as he was walking into a laundromat. I was standing outside with some quarters in my hand to offer to him, as I was doing for several people that evening. When I asked him if he wanted my friends and I to pay for his laundry, he said “nothing in life is free, there is always some kind of trick or gimmick behind it.” Colossians addresses this situation well. It says to put on love above all other things. When we put on love, truly put it on our minds and heart, it is like using the work of Christ to move us into the direction of depending on him better. And his work on the cross wasn’t free, he paid a huge amount for us. 

In order to see things from other people’s perspective, you have to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. We need to bear with each other. When we don’t have people bearing with us, we often are left with a harder heart. 

The man that I met eventually came out and asked for just one quarter. When he realized that just maybe this offer was what he needed, he changed his mind. I gave him a quarter and I hope that he saw this as a “free” gift from his perspective. I kinda worked for the quarter, but he only had to ask. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. This passage definitely shows us how to change our perspective to see from other people’s point of view. Jesus came to meet us right where we are at, and paid a penalty that we deserved to save us from sin. 

 Jesus paid way more than we could imagine so we would have a “free” gift of salvation that we cannot earn by works or any amount of quarters. 

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