Fence building and faith

This past week I put up over 500 feet of privacy fence with the help of my brother-in-law Danny, and my friends Jamie, Mike, Chuck and D.J. We put up over $10,000.00 worth of privacy fence for less than $2,500.00! You see, the materials were given to me. One of the last hurricanes took it down. Since an insurance company paid to put up the owner a brand new one, my brother-in-law was able to bring it to me in sections. We simply dismantled it and put it back up good as new. I boasted to my friends who helped me erect the fence all week about how God has blessed me with a FREE fence!

One day, while attempting to dismantle a particularly difficult section of the fence, I beat my hands up pretty good. My knuckles, covered with cuts and bloody, provided me with a wonderful illustration to share with my friends: Just because something's free doesn't mean it won't cost you something. This is true of my fence, and it's true of our salvation. Philippians 2:12 says, As you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

This fence has been laying in my breezeway for over a year, waiting to be erected. Isn't that how we treat the free gift God's given us sometimes? Let's get to work. Let's build something with what God's given us.