Oprah Winfrey was interviewing Kevin Hart, a popular comedian, when he told a story about his mother and his Bible. Kevin Hart wanted to become a comedian and his mother told him that if he wanted to chase his dream, she would help him for one year. So Kevin began doing his routines in clubs and other venues, hoping to become a star.
The first few months were fairly successful and he was able to pay his expenses. But things slowed down and the paychecks were less frequent. The first of the month arrived and he realized he wasn’t able to make his rent payment. He remembered what his mom had offered, went home and asked if she would help him with his rent check. She asked him how long it had been since he had read his Bible.
Her question annoyed Kevin and he told her he was in a hurry and really didn’t have time for that conversation. Kevin’s mom said she would talk about rent money after he spent a little time with his Bible. Kevin left annoyed, and after several more visits with the same outcome the eviction notice came. Driven by desperation, he sat down with his Bible and began to read. When he opened his Bible he found six rent checks had been inserted into the pages, one for every month that he had lived in his apartment.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the child of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (And a few rent payments on occasion.)
I think Kevin Hart’s mom had a great idea and I like that she didn’t cave and just tell him what she had done. He had to learn that lesson the hard way. The fact that he was telling Oprah the story, many years later, indicates it was a lesson learned. I don’t know if Kevin Hart is a Christian or if he is choosing to honor God with his life. Truthfully, I don’t think so based on some of the things he has said. I do like the way his mom thinks, however.
Just a thought . . . if you are lucky enough to have access to your child’s Bible, or your grandchild’s Bible – maybe you can put some “treasure” in there for Easter. We hide things in Easter eggs, why not hide them in the Easter story as well. Pick a gospel passage about Easter Sunday and tuck a little treasure onto that page. You might want to use a paper clip or a Post-it note to secure it in place.
Your child or grandchild may not find it for years, but imagine their surprise when they do. Your gift doesn’t have to be financial. Imagine finding a note in your Bible from your grandparent or a good friend, explaining why a particular verse, or the Bible itself, had special meaning to them. Wouldn’t that message be a treasure to you?
God’s word is powerful and the greatest treasure in life. Who needs to be reminded of that fact this Easter? Abraham Lincoln said, “I believe that the Bible is the best gift that God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book. I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”
Easter is a good time to remind those we love that nothing should be treasured as much as our salvation, and the book that reveals the path to knowing God. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Let someone know that the Bible is something you treasure.
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