Big equipment in a little dining room …

Henry bragged about his prize possession, and Patricia shook her head at the “junk.” Differing values and views of the same thing.

Henry and “Pat” (Patricia) Solomon were dear friends of mine when I was a teenager. In fact, for a short while I lived with them and was best of friends with one of their sons, Del. They were a Mexican-American family, lower middle-class, living in the not-so-ritzy section of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Henry worked as head custodian at an elementary school. He was a short, balding, obese man who spent his time away from work eating and watching television in bed. But he had a kind heart and was sharp at spotting someone in need that he could help.

Henry also had a fondness for collecting things that had some value, but none directly for himself. In other words, things that simply took up space. Like his entire dining room area!

Somewhere, Henry had come across machinery for making and repairing shoes. The equipment worked, but he didn’t know how to use it because he had never made or repaired shoes. Nor did he ever learn. But he knew the equipment had value, so he bought it and stored it in the dining room area just off the kitchen of his home.

And there it sat, never to be used.

Whenever someone would come to visit, Henry would show off his equipment, explaining he had everything he needed to make and repair shoes.

But never in his life did he make a shoe, or repair one. But the equipment worked!

Pat was usually patient with Henry, but every now and then she would stand looking at the shoe equipment that devoured her dining room. She would shake her head and mumble something about Henry under her breathe.

But at least the equipment worked!

When Henry died, Pat finally sold the machinery for making and repairing shoes. During Henry’s ownership, not a single shoe was made or repaired on the equipment. But at least the equipment worked!

Many people are like Henry. They don’t own any machinery for making or repairing shoes, but they do have something valuable which they never use for their benefit or the benefit of others. It’s the Truth, as provided by the Word of God.

Studies reveal the “average Christian” rarely ever reads the Bible in any given week. But there the Truth as revealed by God Himself sits in their homes, unused by themselves or others … but at least the Truth works!

What are you doing with the Truth? How are you using it, for yourself and others? Or is it simply gathering dust in your home?

Scotty