It was fascinating to read, 18 years later, the earnest commitment we had made as a young couple: At the top of our pages was a similar statement:Contract with God
I hereby give all rights to God of the following things that I want:
Then came our lists (partial):
Dennis
Nice big house with workshop, office
To ski well
Nice furniture and things
Sharp clothes
Security
Easygoing job
Success in ministry and speaking ability
Stay healthy
A healthy, big family-several boys
Barbara
Barbara
Children-at least one boy and one girl
Dennis
To live to see my children grow up
To be settled and stable
To be an outstanding couple and family
Reading the lists on those two pages, Barbara and I were immediately stunned by two things. First, we noticed how silly and shallow some of the things were that we deemed valuable and difficult to give up to God. I was struck by how much I was preoccupied with material things. Looking back over our years together, I found it fascinating how God had continuously sought to wean us from that which is perishable and replace our values with the imperishable: People and His Word.
We also were surprised at how much more God has given us than what we gave up. We immediately thought of Ephesians 3:20. Both of us feel we sacrificed nothing and have gained far more than we ever dreamed of.