… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

Every year at the end of October a thoughtful email appears in my inbox:

In light of this being pastor appreciation month and to honor our Pastors, we would like to offer a complimentary pre-season heating safety inspection. Just call my office and Sandra will be happy to schedule an appointment.

703-730-8444

Thanks for all you do for us!

Trevor & Sandra Briggs, Briggs Heating and Cooling

Now, Trevor is a great friend, but up until this past year I’ve never taken him up on his offer. I mean, I change my air conditioning filters every couple of months or so, and we have hot water baseboard heating, which is fairly maintenance free, so what’s the point? And if the truth be told, I’m too lazy to do the cleaning required to allow Trevor access to that corner of my basement utility room. (Hey, I’m just being honest here!)

A couple of months ago, though, something changed my mind. Pam noticed that a small wet spot had appeared underneath our 30 year old gas hot water heater. At first I got a disposable aluminum pie plate and tried to find the drip to catch it (like that was a solution or something). When I could find no definitive drip, I wiped up the water and like any good aspiring home handyman, just hoped that it would go away. “I think it’s fixed, honey!” I announced loudly, hoping my kids were listening. It wasn’t. In fact over the next several months the wet spot got just a little bit bigger and my wife’s gracious and consistent reminders continued.

“Hey Trevor, thanks for your home inspection offer… any possibility of checking out my hot water heater too when you come over?” “Yes? Oh, that’d be great.” I placed that call the first week of November. We scheduled with Sandra for the following week and that was that.

I arrived home from church one afternoon just as Trevor was finishing his inspection.

“Heating system’s fine, but the water heater’s dead.” He said. You’ll probably want to get that taken care of in the next couple of weeks. If it rusts out, you’ll have a big mess on your hands.”

“How much do one of these babies cost?” I asked doubtfully. 

“Hmm… a good quality 50 gallon natural gas water heater retails for around $5-600 bucks.” Trevor replied. “I’ll work with you on labor and then some parts…” He continued on, but I had tuned him out thinking about the cost of the water heater.

“The water heater’s dead.” I announced to Pam as Trevor and I trooped up the stairs. “Gotta replace it quick before it floods the downstairs.”

“You know,” Pam said thoughtfully, “I took a walk this morning and one block down there’s a hot water heater sitting in someone’s front yard with a ‘for sale’ sign on it.”

You’ve got to be kidding.

We popped into Trevor’s work truck and drifted down the street until we spotted a practically brand new 50 gallon hot water heater still in the original box with a hand written sign that said $150. Trevor got out inspected it and engaged the family in friendly conversation. Before I knew it he talked them down to $100. Five minutes later I’m helping Trevor load a water heater, exactly what we need, onto his truck while he says, “I love it when God does this!”

As Pam and I talked about it later that night, she reminded me of this verse… “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” 

I wish I could tell you that I had thought to ask God in advance about my water heater, but the reality is I don’t usually think that way. In my ’cause and effect’ little world my water heater breaks so I will be withdrawing a significant chunk from my dwindling savings account. After all, that’s why the money is there. Right? No need for God in that- money in, money out. Better luck next month.

But then there are these times when God decides to show off. He breaks into my little world and says, 

“Here you go, Steve, just because I love you, have a hot water heater. And you know what? It’s OK that you didn’t think to ask. I just wanted you to have it. That’s the kind of God that I am. And you know what? You can trust me for these things, not just the ‘spiritual stuff,’ but everything. I know you like to be self sufficient and all, but that whole self sufficiency thing really works against our relationship. So whenever you hear my voice calling you to be generous or take steps of faith for my Kingdom… go ahead. I’ve got your back. I’ve got plenty of water heaters and all kinds of stuff. But I wanted you to have this one so you can look at it and remember the full range of my provision for you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, indeed!