An addict is driving along all alone in his car one night on an empty highway. He is depressed beyond words, thinking how miserable he is and how he would do anything to get sober and have a normal life. Suddenly as he is zooming down the highway and thinking, he hears the voice of God.
“I hear you’re looking for sobriety,” says God.
“Yes,” he says, in awe.
“Well you’re in luck today.” Says God, “Because I happen to have sobriety, and it can be yours for a reasonable price.”
“How much?”
“How much have you got?”
“I’ve got twenty dollars in my pocket.”
“You’re in luck,” Says God. “The price of sobriety today happens to be exactly twenty dollars.”
“But that’s everything I’ve got,” the man protests, “If I give you all my money, how will I buy gas for the car?”
“A car? Says got, “Oh, I see. the price of sobriety is twenty bucks and your car.”
“But if I give you my car, how will I get to work tomorrow?”
“Work?” says God, “You have a job? The price of sobriety is twenty bucks, your car and your job.”
“But if I give you my job, then I won’t get paid, I need to pay the mortgage this week.”
“A mortgage? You mean you have a house?” I hate to tell you this, but the price of sobriety just went up. It’s twenty bucks, your car, your job and your house.”
“But where will my family live?”
“Family? You’ve got a wife and kids? The price of sobriety is twenty bucks, your car, your job, your house, and your wife and kids.”
At his point the man decides to shut up.
“Are you willing to take it?” asks God.
The man nots. God takes everything, and He is about to give the man his sobriety.
“But one thing.” Says God, “Before I give you your sobriety, there is something else I want you to do for me.”
The man nods again.
“See this twenty dollars?” Says God, “It’s not your twenty dollars. Its’s My twenty dollars. You know that. But I want you to take it from Me, and I want you to be My emissary to spend it as I would.
And you see this car? It’s not your car. It’s My car. But I want you to use it as I would.
And this job, I want you to go to work and earn a paycheck. But it’s not your job. It’s My job. And I want you to behave there as I would.
And this family – this wife and these kids. They’re not your family. They’re My family. But I want you to take care of them for me the way that I would.
Can you do all of that?”
The man nods again.
“Then here it all is. And here is your sobriety.”