A Steve Story
-as it stands
That day the Lord showed up for Steve and me is one of the most outstanding experiences in my Christian life. It taught me a lot about Mat 16:24
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
"And it brought into reality this one in Mark 8:35 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.
You see, for 24 years in the church world, we primarily were trained to serve our leaders as we participated and supported one church program activity or another. In doing so, we thought we were serving God.
Just like our tithing and giving, we thought we were giving to God by putting in the offering plate. Where did those tithes and offerings go? It should have been going to help people like Steve and those in our own assembly who lived in poverty, as Paul admonished the church "that there be an equality..".
But we thought we fulfilled our duty and obligation to God by ministering to the offering plate while we typically disdained people like Steve.
How many "Steves" came through our church or into our lives over the years? I shudder to think of it. We shuttled them off to some help-ministry, the food pantry deacons, or the benevolent fund admin. rather than taking personal responsibility.
One Sunday when a Mexican man showed up looking for food and help, we brushed him off to the Spanish church that met in our building.
We were meeting another couple for lunch that day at a nice restaurant.
Back to Steve.
Steve was homeless living in his own house. Still no electricity or water and can you imagine living that way for 8 months like Steve did? Home comforts end as soon as you need to go to the bathroom, let alone the zero options of grabbing something out of the frig.
We were having regular conversations about God and he was about ready to "come to Jesus" although he still had to overcome a LOT of mixed up ideas and philosophies. I was giving him rides as needed and looking about for firewood sources. One day we went with one of our sons out to a ranch and gathered a load of wood from an old fallen barn. Steve was excited about the wood that would last him a week. Every time he needed me, our electricity, water, or a tool, we gave. Sometimes it was money.
There were times I fought a bit of resentment but knowing full well that God was giving me a great lesson in serving and giving to someone who could never repay. It was OK.
But there was still something missing.
One night I went to God in prayer for Steve saying, "Lord, thank you for allowing me to serve you but I must confess that even though I have done these things for Steve, I cannot say that I love him as you told us." (Love thy neighbor as thyself.)
Steve was crusty, cranky, alcoholic, smoked, and used language. He had also suffered a lot of hurtful rejection.
I went on to say, "If you want me to love Steve like you said, then you must put that in my heart as I am not capable of that kind of love."
It happened the next day; Steve came over and needed a ride to town. Remembering the prayer from the night before, I listened to Steve talk about his plans for the future and upon arriving, he thanked me for the ride. It was pretty hard to do but as Steve opened the door I knew I was supposed to let him know one thing..."Hey Steve, I want you to know that I love you in Christ."
His eyes became tear-filled and his voice choked with emotion as he spoke a muffled, "Thanks man," and he walked away.
That turned out to be one of the last times I saw Steve.
His house has been empty since March; his red Honda car, which had been parked there since last fall, was hauled off by someone, maybe his daughter. His stuff is still inside the house and I don't understand why no realtor has taken over his obviously distressed and most-likely foreclosed property.
We pass by Steve's house nearly every day and I look over at the weed-filled yard and the garbage can that sits in his driveway month after month. We don't know where he is or where he went.
One day he and his little dog were quietly gone.
I hope we hear from him again and I pray that he found Jesus in that Bible we gave him. In reading this, maybe you will say a prayer for Steve too.
-And someday, I'll be able to write another chapter to this Steve Story and bring good news about my friend.
Maybe God will bring a "Steve" into your life too. If so, I hope this series about him will inspire you to slow down and find God in the life of someone that is easy to pass by.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
Mat. 25:40
