More Tobit

Tobit 2:9-14

          I suppose this could be continuation of yesterdays blog that no good deed goes unpunished. Tobit seems to be terribly afflicted for such a man of good character. Of course we know bad things do happen to good people.  However,  there is another important message to get across.

          Let's start with me as a young man. For some reason, perhaps out of some sense of being unworthy, I was never able to accept any gifts from people. It was very difficult. I recall practically begging not to accept a TV from my classmates' parents who were thrilled that I could use it in my rented room. It was difficult to let people do things for me.

       In this passage from Tobit, he seems suspiciously close to accusing his wife of stealing a kid (goat).  It would seem that even though they are in the midst of hard times he'd easier believe his wife is a thief than accept a gift or think someone woud be so gracious and good hearted.

       I think we all try to do good and would willingly offer help to anyone when their need is presented to us in some manner. But how is it when someone tries to help us? How good are you at accepting help? If we believe we are all instruments of God's love, could we be actually turning away a gift from God? Are we reluctant to accept help or gifts from others because we do not feel worthy? 

       Part of recognizing just how much God loves us individually is the knowledge that we are worthy and that God wants us to have the best.

       Of course the flip side of that coin is having a sense of entitlement, especially at the expense of others who deserve the best just as much as we do. A fine line perhaps. I think we should be more worried about helping others than helping ourselves. That is the template given to us by Jesus. Jesus is entitled to everything and yet he accepted an earthly lot, a life of punishment that we can fully understand so we could live. He was entitled to so much and gave us all he had, his life. We surely should love others but we really should be able to accept all the good gifts that God graces us with.

          

That same night I washed myself and went into my courtyard and slept by the wall of the courtyard; and my face was uncovered because of the heat. I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall; their fresh droppings fell into my eyes and produced white films. I went to physicians to be healed, but the more they treated me with ointments the more my vision was obscured by the white films, until I became completely blind. For four years I remained unable to see. All my kindred were sorry for me, and Ahikar took care of me for two years before he went to Elymais.

At that time, also, my wife Anna earned money at women’s work. She used to send what she made to the owners and they would pay wages to her. One day, the seventh of Dystrus, when she cut off a piece she had woven and sent it to the owners, they paid her full wages and also gave her a kid for a meal. When she returned to me, the kid began to bleat. So I called her and said, ‘Where did you get this kid? It is surely not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for we have no right to eat anything stolen.’ But she said to me, ‘It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages.’ But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners. I became flushed with anger against her over this. Then she replied to me, ‘Where are your acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? These things are known about you!’