Greetings Dear Reader,
I have a friend who has been my friend since I first found
Christ and actually before I made the choice to follow Jesus. His family was good to me when I was
determined to destroy myself with drugs, depression, and anger. He asked the following about yesterday’s
post.
“So well said! So, we pull up to an intersection where an
individual displays a sign of homelessness or hunger - we face a couple of
decisions! 1- is this a real needy individual? 2- should I play a part in
helping. I can speak for myself in that I don't always know what to do ....”
(Glenn)
I am going to take a couple of days to respond to this
because I wish to be sure that I am honest, introspective, and do not just give
a pat answer. I also think it will take
a couple of days to ensure that I cover the entire answer. This may hurt if you
have tender toes or like easy answers.
First, I will begin by addressing the exact situation that
Glenn mentions. Having lived in a town
where a group of people formed a cooperative to stand on the corner and seek
donations as a full time avocation, I understand his question. There reasoning was that “working” the
corners paid more than working a McDonald's.
In the gentlest way possible I want to point out that Jesus addressed
this.
Mat 5:42 “Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't
turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.” I have read this in many translations. In none of them are there qualifiers. There is nothing that says “unless you think
they are an addict or a drunk.” No
matter how we address it this is a command from Jesus.
Does that mean that the guy or gal at the stoplight is asking
me directly? I do not know. I do know
that what is done with my gift of kindness is between the receiver and
God. If I give a gift it is no longer
mine to manage. I never wore the bright
brown mustard yellow wool sweater that my aunt gave me. It was a gift for me to use as I saw fit
(which it did not). Two years after I received
it a friend commented on how much she liked it when she saw it in my coat
closet. I gave it to her. My aunt’s gift to me was never used by me but
it was used by someone who loved it.
I am not saying that we are to be irresponsible with what
God provides but we see over and over that the Father wants us to be generous,
liberal givers. Consider these words
from Solomon. “Whoever has a bountiful
eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” (Proverbs
22:9) I would rather spend my time having an eye toward the needs of others
than worrying about their motive and machinations. Solomon also says this. “The one who is gracious to the poor lends to
the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17) There
are very few places where we can assuredly say that the Creator of all things
is indebted to us. I want to embrace the
idea of the Father owing me something with humility and grace.
But wait! There is more.
You see, we are not simply supposed to give to the poor and needy. Paul instructs Timothy carefully. “Charge them that are rich in this world,
that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that
they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” 1
Timothy 6:17-18
Not only are we supposed to be ready and willing to give
liberally to the poor. We are required
to be willing to communicate with them.
If we look at the meaning of the word translated “communicate” we find
this:
Communicate, koinōnikos
1) social, sociable, ready and apt to form and maintain
communion and fellowship
2) inclined to make others sharers in one’s possessions,
inclined to impart, free in giving, liberal (Thayer)
We are required to be sociable and make those in need part
of our community. We are to commune with
them. We cannot do this if we drop the
thirteen cents from our six-dollar Grande cup into the homeless guy’s empty one
without making eye contact. We ignore
opportunities to be generous and establish community every day. We trade generosity and community for hot
milkshakes.
So how do we apply this?
For me I must realize that even though I am poor right now I am not
excused from giving where I can and being good to those in need. (I mean this.
As blessed as I am I have no income and cannot seem to get a job. If you feel generous and want to help you can
through my Patreon page. www.patreon.com/aramisthorn)
I do not know what it means to you and I
will get on to more of this tomorrow.
What it means to me and for me is that I must look for opportunities to
be generous and kind to the poor.
We have so much more than we realize. It is in giving that we find our true richness. It is in seeking community that we find our
desire to give. When we see those
begging for food perhaps we should picture Jesus with the basin and the towel
washing the feet of the man who would deny him.
Perhaps that image will become more important to us than the motivations
of the guy on the corner with the cardboard sign. No matter what we imagine, it always becomes a
matter of our heart to give over another human’s failings. It is our love for the Father and our
neighbor that must move us.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜Ê– ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
Support Page on
Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn
Bookings at aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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