Trick or Treat Principles

Author:
November 22, 2024

A Few weeks ago, my wife and I took some of our grandchildren Trick or Treating. It has been several years since I did that. All three of those we took in search of candy delights were under seven with Molly just 2 years of age. I took charge of Molly who was wide eyed at the whole process. Her older brothers were experienced and knew the drill – all too well did they know the drill. Molly mostly followed, at times unsure of what to do. I have to wonder what is going through the mind of a two-year-old when you ask them to walk up to a stranger’s door and ask for candy. Obviously, it doesn’t take long for a child to realize the wonder and fascination of holding out their bucket and being rewarded with a smorgasbord of sugary treats. Although filling the bucket was a clear plan of action, there was something more to this activity. For me at least, this activity became a mission to teach life principles.

Really, there were two principals involved. The first is the one we like best and on Halloween, it only takes three simple words, “trick or treat.” These words initiate the principle, somewhat loosely, of “ask and you will receive (Jn. 16:24).” As we walked up to the door of a stranger, I would remind Molly to say, “Trick or Treat.” She, in her baby Yoda costume, was so cute none could refuse her request. She got the hang of it rather quickly. Most of us do. It’s not too hard to get the “ask to receive” principle figured out; it is basically in our nature.

Hands full of candy filled her bucket, each deposit moving her toward the goal of a stash of Halloween goodies. Throughout the evening, she ‘troopered’ on gaining confidence with each visit. That’s the thing about asking and receiving – there is a gratification that becomes its own reward. The more we ask and receive, the more we want to ask and receive. Perhaps that is what Jesus had in mind when he reminded the disciples that they did not have because they did not ask. Jesus was not encouraging narcistic greed, rather he was stating a fact; if we are not willing to ask it is likely we will not receive. This not a matter of God not knowing what we need or a stingy withholding of blessing. Jesus said, “your heavenly Father knows what you need, even before you ask (Mt. 6:8). It has to do with the faith necessary to trust that God has the resources, is of a willing disposition and actually delights in the fact His children know His heart enough to simply walk up to His door and say, “trick or treat.”

It’s the other principle that is a bit more difficult. Even as the prompt to ask for candy was embedding its principle of ask and receive, the other principle was calling for even more attention. This was true not just for Molly; her older brothers were having an even more difficult time with it. They knew better than Molly the joy awaiting them when they got home. Those treats accumulating in their buckets would soon be savored on their pallet. Their minds were nimbly thinking through what treat they would enjoy first. So much so, that they often forgot completely the second principle; many of us do. So, as I held my granddaughter’s hand, I made sure that with every new bit of candy deposited in her bucket, she too would make a deposit. We practiced the important art of saying thank you. In some instances, she remembered the lesson and would say thank you unprompted. More often, she needed a reminder – “Molly, say thank you.” Most of us need that same prompt.

The first principle without the second will lead only to narcissistic greed and an entitlement attitude. The Trick of Treat adventure was purely one of grace. No one had to give my grandchildren any candy. There was no mandate upon the residents requiring them to pass out treats to wandering children – no matter how cute they might be. What they got resulted from he goodness and graciousness of neighbors who desired to give. It works that way with asking and receiving from God. He owes us nothing, yet still He graciously chooses to give abundantly. The only thing that keeps us from making God the cosmic vending machine in the sky are two words – “thank you.” In those words, is the acknowledgement that what we have been given is an undeserved blessing from a good and gracious God. Those two words stand in the way of my narcissism, my greed, my sense of entitlement by reinforcing my lack of sufficiency and need of Divine provision. They reframe my relationship with God. He does love me, even though I do not deserve that love; He has poured out on me His great grace, even though I have done nothing worthy of such an incredible gift.

Thanks, Molly, for taking me Trick or Treating and for reminding me to say “thank you!”

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