One day, just before leaving school, a boy brought his mother a list. It was a bill for services rendered. “For mowing the lawn, $2. For emptying the trash, $2. For cleaning my room, $2. For doing the dishes this week, $2. Mama, you owe me $8.”

When he got back home after school, the boy received the eight dollars and along with the payment a “bill” from his mom. It read: “For carrying you nine months, with all the accompanying inconvenience and nausea, $0. For cooking three meals a day for fifteen years, $0. For working overtime to buy you those new sneakers you love so much, $0. For losing sleep and wages when I had to stay home with you after you broke your leg, $0. Son, you owe me—nothing.”

“Son, you owe me—nothing.”

 Looking over the piece of paper, the boy recognized the price his mother had paid, and he offered to give back the money in response to the goodness of his mother. 

Our problem sometimes is that we’ve grown accustomed to the kindness and love of Jesus.

We’ve forgotten all that He has done for us.

 We’ve forgotten all that He has done for us. That He laid down His life for us at no charge, purely out of love and a desire for us to be in relationship with God. We’ve forgotten how freely He offers Himself to us, even though we don’t do the same thing in return. We’ve forgotten how good He really is.

When you really recognize God’s goodness, you want to serve Him. When you think about all He has given—and continues to give—serving Him becomes a passion, an opportunity and a privilege.

Check out more from Dr. Tony Evans @tonyevans.org

About The Author

Dr. Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. As a pastor, teacher, author and speaker, he serves the body of Christ through his unique ability to communicate complex theological truths through simple, yet profound, illustrations. While addressing the practical issues of today, Dr. Evans is known as a relevant expositor. New and veteran pastors alike regard him as a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.


At the heart of this vision is the use of church and school partnerships to effect spiritual and social change in communities. Dr. Evans’ church and school outreach philosophy has been attributed as a catalyst for former President George W. Bush’s Faith Based Initiative, which was his first formal act of office. Dr. Evans seeks to train churches, schools and volunteers in this philosophy, as well as in the functional practicalities, through the National Church Adopt-A-School Initiative which is a ministry underneath the umbrella of The Urban Alternative.


Dr. Evans serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and the application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 850 radio outlets throughout the United States and in more than 80 countries.


Dr. Evans has written numerous books and booklets including his legacy work, Oneness Embraced, as well as his vision work, The Kingdom Agenda. Some of his most recent books includes, Kingdom Man, A Moment For Your Soul, Marriage Matters, and Victory in Spiritual Warfare.



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