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Pumping Gas for Jesus

You never know when you are going to meet Jesus, sometimes he shows up in the most unlikely of places. I almost didn’t recognize him today when he approached me at the gas station asking for a little assistance. He didn’t look anything like most of the pictures we have all grown up with, and he didn’t drive a very nice car. In case you’re wondering, Jesus drives a faded yellow early 1990’s Oldsmobile. There is cardboard taped into the spot where the passenger side rear window ought to be, and he needs new tires. All in all, Jesus doesn’t have much of a car.

As I was sipping on a cup of coffee and topping off my tank, the gentleman from the yellow Olds came over and asked if I could help him get some gas. His right arm was in a sling and cast, his left wrist heavily bandaged and he had a brace of some sort on his left ankle and foot. I told him to wait a few moments until I finished and then I would help him out. Finally, I approached him and his first words to me were, “If you could spare some change for some gas I would appreciate it.” I thought he needed help pumping, not paying.

I told him that it was no problem, but that he needed more than change. These days, change for gas won’t go too far. I took the liberty of swiping my card at the pump and proceeded to gas up the Oldsmobile. “Will $10.00 worth help you out?” He said that was much more than he expected. After $10.00 had gone into his tank I realized that his car was sitting on empty and there was now only about 2 ½ gallons of gas in it. This car won’t go too far on 2 ½ gallons. I saw $20 go by on the pump, then $25. Finally at $40.00 I thought that I had better quit because this random act of generosity was becoming expensive.

Jesus couldn’t thank me enough. He had just had multiple surgeries, was out of work and now he would be able to make his doctor appointment, and have enough gas to last him a week. He asked me for my name; “David” I said. Then the oddest thing happened. As I was about to say good bye to him, Jesus blessed me. “You’re obviously a child of God” he said. And with that, Jesus and I said good bye.

A few years ago, when people in need of help would stop by the church to ask assistance, Palmer, my friend and mentor would say that it was Jesus calling. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) Christ calls us to love our neighbor, giving freely of our selves without expectation. This isn’t always easy, and sometimes even when we manage to give from our abundance, we later wish we had been a little more conservative. But even as we strive to give generously, but fall short, Christ has already blessed us beyond measure.

Sure, I could have filled the tank, and probably should have. But even as my act of generosity reached its limit, Jesus blessed me. Thankfully there is no limit to the love of God in Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God.