Providing for those who are less fortunate

[Shannonkish]

On Saturday I had to take the bus to work again. I was bored so I decided that I would walk for a while. I walked about a mile and stopped at a bus stop. A guy asked me if I had any money and shared with me that he was trying to get medicine for his mother, but didn't have the money. He even showed me an empty medicine bottle. I didn't have any money on me. But, this had me thinking--

The Bible talks about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. Obviously we have to use discernment and wisdom in this day and age, but when are we to follow this command from Jesus? All the time? Only when it is convienent for us? Only when the story is really good?

The reason I ask this is because anytime I see a homeless person, or just someone that needs a little help I am inclined to want to help them, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. The times I don't I am left with questions like the ones above and the passage that discusses this in the bible echos in my mind.

I am not saying that I feel convicted about not helping, because that is not always the case.. such as the case yesterday. I didn't have the means to help this person, so there was no conviction there.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Shannonkish]

bumping because I didn't get any responses.

 

[Sheena_Va]

I, myself, ask the same question. In Mathew 25
it says :
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

I take every chance I have to give to others. Its not always money. It may be something as little as time. There have been many occasions where a person gives me a story about needing gas or medicine or whatever.....if I have the extra money (or sometimes cut myself short), I still give it to them and just pray to the Lord that they will use it for good. I also offer a "God Bless You" when leaving so they know that what I did was because of my love for Lord.

 

[Injured Soldier]

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS:

Of course you won't be held to Jesus command to feed the poor when you can't afford it. But what does can't afford it mean? If you have a budget where clothes and other luxuries eat up over half your spending, the "I can't afford it" line gets blurry. It depends on your definition of poor. Some students at my uni whinge they are poor, yet they spend a lot on alcohol and partying. My brother never has money, but he also has a car that costs $80 to fill up the fuel tank completely, and he buys cigarettes and alcohol all the time. Even I'm poor, but can afford a luxury every now and then. There are a million ways to skim off the top, and if God is convicting you of this in your life, and you want to please God, you will set money apart for that and not rely on it to just be there. It is like giving to church, can I not take my wallet to church and therefore get out of giving to God's ministry when the plate (or plant pots if your church uses them) comes around.

CONCERNING WHEN YOU DO HAVE THE MEANS:

Charity to this type of thing is fraught with danger. Though I acknowledge there are people in need, a lot of people in need, there are also people with addictions. Is it really loving someone if you give them money for food and they spend it on alcohol, smokes, or other drugs? I've worked in some pretty bad areas and I've heard some pretty amazing stories, from they need food, they need to call home, they need medicine for their granny, they need to buy milk. Some in my naive days prompted me handing over change. I'm not made of stone. Some have been genuinely grateful, others just move on to people across the road with the same sob story.

I've learnt a trick how to deal with these things. If they ask for travel money, food money or medicine money, and you have change to spare, DO NOT HAND IT OVER. If someone's asking for change for food or coffee, offer to take them to Maccas or a cafe and shout them a meal. For medicine, offer to go with them to the chemist to buy it. Travel money, offer to go buy them a bus or train ticket to where they are going. If they are honest to goodness, they will appreciate it. And you will get time to share the love of Jesus and get to know these suffering human beings better. If they are scamming you, they will complain or try to talk you into just giving them the money.

 

[Shannonkish]

see, I tend to lean the same way you do Injured Solider.

 

[Injured Soldier]

see, I tend to lean the same way you do Injured Solider.

Is your right leg shorter than your left leg too Shannonkish??

 

[Shannonkish]

Something like that

 

[Sheena_Va]

Is your right leg shorter than your left leg too Shannonkish??

First belly laugh of the morning.... thanks!