Tag: gift card

Posted in Grace, life, money, Scripture, thankful

A Tale of Two Cards

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Two cards–as different as night and day. In my wallet I carry lots of stuff but there are two cards that tell very different tales. Let me explain. Stuffed in among the stuff are two cards that I can used to buy stuff. The first is a credit card. After proving to the company that I was worthy to have their card, they allow me to buy stuff with the clear understanding that when I do I have to pay them back. And, if I don’t pay them back in full every month, I have to pay some interest–lots of interest. For the record, we do in fact pay ours back every month. And interestedly enough, we use this card only to buy the gas for our cars and when I do they pay me 5% on every dollar I spend. But buyers beware–they are just waiting for me to mess up and not pay the balance and if I do–the penalty is way more than that 5%.

Now card two is totally different. Though it is very similar in size and color the very nature of this card is totally different. You see, it is a gift card. Here is how it works. Someone paid the price in full and gave it to me as a gift. When I go to the store I simply walk up to the cash register with my purchase and give the person my card. They process it and then–I simply walk away. There is never a bill at the end of the month, there is never a penalty and in most cases–it never expires. Wow…how about that?

Like I said, even though they look alike, they are totally different. A credit card is a debt and the gift card is a prepaid gift. And that dear friends is the difference between grace and works–religion and Jesus. Works and religion make you work to keep the rules with the hopeless hope of making you right with God. Problem is–it won’t work. Never has and never will. It leaves you with a debt that can only end in eternity separated from God. Bad deal. Grace and Jesus are a free gift from God.  Our only responsibility is to believe in Jesus and in the process receive the gift. Debt–paid in full. No bill ever, no penalty ever–you are free.

That big truth from the Bible can be summed up in Romans 6:23. There we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Boom! Reject Jesus and you are responsible for the debt of your sin and you will spend eternity separated from God in a place you don’t even want to think about. But receive Jesus and He takes responsibility for your sin by dying in your place. He paid the price so you don’t have to.

So question? Are you counting on bad credit or God’s grace? Are you hoping that somehow you can pay the debt or will you let Jesus pay it for you? The choice is yours…debt and bondage or grace and freedom. Worried that your debt is just too big? Forget about! He is more than able to handle whatever your sin load is.  He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Unclaimed and Expired

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

First it was the scale…today something else. One Tuesday I wrote a story about a dusty scale and a season of regret.  Strangely, today, I find myself writing a story that is a little similar but totally different.  It is a story about neglect and loss. You see, I have always been a frugal fellow.  Some would say I am a little tight, but I prefer frugal.  What is frugal?  Well, according to the Oxford Dictionary when someone is frugal it means that they are sparing or economical regarding money or food and I guess that describes me.

Let me explain.  When we go to a restaurant and look at the menu, my wife Judy is totally motivated by what sounds good.  I, on the other hand, am motivated by the value of the menu. In other words, I want good value for my money.  Someone (my wife) has taught me a lesson about money (by the way, not the most important one but a good lesson).  She told me, more than once, remember you can only spend it once.  Good advice and so I make my choice carefully.

Now would be a good time to remember that money is neutral (not good or bad) and that it is just a tool.  It must never become an idol and must never be more important that a whole lot of other things like, God, family, and people. Its ok if money is your friend but don’t make it your best friend…reserve that spot to the three I just listed.  Now, with all that said, the Bible tells us that we are to be good stewards of the things that God places in our hands. So being frugal is not only ok…it’s Biblical.

So, what is this story all about?  Well, it is sitting on my desk staring at me while I write.  It is a red Visa gift/debit card.  I’ve had it for quite a while…in fact too much of a while.  At one time it had a value of $25 but today it is worth the grand total of zero.  What happened?  Well, when I received it, either as a gift or for going to some conference, I filed it away for another time and well…that time never came.  The expiration date says it all—08/21.  Since I am writing this on 12/23—well, you can see the problem.  Expired. Over. Finished.  Oh, I went to the website just to check.  I mean surely there was an exception.  There wasn’t.

Turns out I’m in good company since nearly half (47 percent) of U.S. adults have at least one unused gift card, gift voucher or store credit, according to a new Bankrate study. And those gift cards aren’t small change, the average is $187 a person—a total value of $23 billion nationwide.

I think the thing I hate the worst about all of this is the fact that whether it was a gift or something I got at a conference—it was wasted. The only one who benefitted was the company that issued it and they didn’t even send me a letter thanking me for the contribution. And as we just read is that a sizable portion of gift cards are never redeemed.  How crazy is that?  The only thing I can think of that is crazier than that is how many people never redeem the greatest gift ever—God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

I can’t do a thing about that little red card laying on my desk, but it is not too late for you to do something with God’s great, big Christmas gift—eternal life through His Son.  If you never have, while not receive that gift today? With open hands and heart, He is just waiting to give it to you.  And with that gift comes the confident assurance that your days of facing life alone are over.  From now on, you can believe and know that no matter what—He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne