MAY 10, Proverbs 28:13

“My baseball glove is missing!” exclaimed Philip as he stormed into the kitchen. He scowled. “Derek probably took it. He’s always taking things that don’t belong to him.”

Just then Derek entered the room. “I heard that, Philip,” he said. “You make me sound like a thief!”

“You don’t have Philip’s glove?” asked Mom. “I have it,” admitted Derek, “but it’s not like I stole it. I just borrowed it. It’s no big deal!”

“Well, it is to me,” said Philip. “I’ve told you lots of times to ask if you want to use something that’s mine. Don’t just take it like you own it!” Mom nodded. “Get your brother’s glove and return it to him,” she ordered.

Silently, Derek did as he was told. When he came back with the glove, Mom had left the room, so he didn’t bother to say he was sorry.

As his mother was putting clothes into the washing machine later that day, Derek hurried in with a shirt. “Can you wash this for me?” he asked. “It’s dirty. Look!” Mom inspected the shirt. “It is pretty bad, but I’ve already got a big load,” she said. “Why don’t you just wear something else? It’s no big deal, is it?”

“Yes! Our basketball team is having our picture taken tomorrow, so I need this shirt,” replied Derek.

Mom looked at the shirt again. “All right,” she said. “I guess there’s room for one more shirt.” She looked thoughtful as she threw it into the washer. “You know, Derek,” she added, “waiting a few days to wash your shirt didn’t seem like a big deal to me. But it did to you. A lot of times what seems like no big deal to one person is a big deal to somebody else. Like the glove incident. That was a big deal to Philip, remember?” Derek sighed and nodded. “The most important thing to consider is how God sees it? We may think a wrong thing we do is no big deal, but God hates all sin.”

Derek sighed. “I… I’ll try to remember to ask permission to use his stuff after this,” he promised. “And I’ll tell him I’m sorry about the glove.”

“Good,” said Mom. “You need to do that, and I hope you’ll tell God you’re sorry, too.”

Thought: Do you feel like your sins are no big deal? Think again!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me remember that You hate sin. Help me also confess my sins always and seek Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.