Dear Friends,
I know you along with me have seen the homeless men and women standing right off the highway exits with signs like this:
"Homeless, disabled, please help. God bless."
In our world, we never know who is honestly in need or not. My husband told me of a news coverage where a "homeless" man was followed after begging at the side of the road, and actually lived in a nice neighborhood and had a very nice house! Talk about shameful!
I also have my doubts when I pull up to these people. I often rationalize that if they are truly homeless, they brought it upon themselves. Everyone else has to work hard to have things, why do they get off so easily? I thought that homelessness was really nothing more than a disorder of sorts, where money management and irresponsibility were the real culprits for their situations. But I have been reading a LOT of verses in the Bible lately that talk about charity and giving to the poor. Jesus says we will ALWAYS have the poor and homeless among us. So it ain't going away. This is a problem that we need to deal with.
At first I did what everyone else did when they pulled off the highway...avoided the gaze of the poor person, texted on my phone, ignored them. Then I started thinking of the guts a person had to have to stand in that spot all the time, holding a shameful sign with their head hanging. I decided to change my heart. As I told my husband regarding tithing to the church, if they misuse my offerings may God deal with them. I, however, will be obedient. I began sharing extra food and snacks with the strangers, and they always were grateful and often dug in before the streetlight changed. If I don't have anything, I will at least meet their gaze and smile. The car next to me the other day handed the homeless man a $50 bill! I was very touched.
You have to make your own peace about how to deal with our poor. But here are some verses that have really changed my heart:
"Happy is the man who cares for the poor. The Lord will save him in times of trouble." Ps.41:1
"He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act." Prov. 19:17
"Sell what you have and give the money poor people. Have money-bags for yourselves that will never wear out. These money-bags are riches in heaven that will always be there.No robber can take them and no bugs can eat them there." Luke 12:33
"He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor." Prov. 22:9
"Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will STILL run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return. " Luke 6:38
"He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor." Prov. 28:27
"Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives b/c he WANTS to give." 2 Cor. 9:7
"There is one who is freein giving, and yet he grows richer. And there is one who keeps what he should give, but he ends up needing more.The man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself." Prov. 11:24-25.
I recently read a devotional that pointed out that as God promises, we will be given what we need in abundance if we give freely. It points out that we should not give expecting to GET. We should GET expecting to GIVE. This was a big exclamation point for me, and totally changed my view of working for finances. When we think of the spiritual purposes for work, we are able to change our selfish views of money and possessions. After all, we can't take it with us when we leave. And "God loves a cheerful giver!." Search your heart and act accordingly.
Love, Monica
I know you along with me have seen the homeless men and women standing right off the highway exits with signs like this:
"Homeless, disabled, please help. God bless."
In our world, we never know who is honestly in need or not. My husband told me of a news coverage where a "homeless" man was followed after begging at the side of the road, and actually lived in a nice neighborhood and had a very nice house! Talk about shameful!
I also have my doubts when I pull up to these people. I often rationalize that if they are truly homeless, they brought it upon themselves. Everyone else has to work hard to have things, why do they get off so easily? I thought that homelessness was really nothing more than a disorder of sorts, where money management and irresponsibility were the real culprits for their situations. But I have been reading a LOT of verses in the Bible lately that talk about charity and giving to the poor. Jesus says we will ALWAYS have the poor and homeless among us. So it ain't going away. This is a problem that we need to deal with.
At first I did what everyone else did when they pulled off the highway...avoided the gaze of the poor person, texted on my phone, ignored them. Then I started thinking of the guts a person had to have to stand in that spot all the time, holding a shameful sign with their head hanging. I decided to change my heart. As I told my husband regarding tithing to the church, if they misuse my offerings may God deal with them. I, however, will be obedient. I began sharing extra food and snacks with the strangers, and they always were grateful and often dug in before the streetlight changed. If I don't have anything, I will at least meet their gaze and smile. The car next to me the other day handed the homeless man a $50 bill! I was very touched.
You have to make your own peace about how to deal with our poor. But here are some verses that have really changed my heart:
"Happy is the man who cares for the poor. The Lord will save him in times of trouble." Ps.41:1
"He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act." Prov. 19:17
"Sell what you have and give the money poor people. Have money-bags for yourselves that will never wear out. These money-bags are riches in heaven that will always be there.No robber can take them and no bugs can eat them there." Luke 12:33
"He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor." Prov. 22:9
"Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will STILL run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return. " Luke 6:38
"He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor." Prov. 28:27
"Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives b/c he WANTS to give." 2 Cor. 9:7
"There is one who is freein giving, and yet he grows richer. And there is one who keeps what he should give, but he ends up needing more.The man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself." Prov. 11:24-25.
I recently read a devotional that pointed out that as God promises, we will be given what we need in abundance if we give freely. It points out that we should not give expecting to GET. We should GET expecting to GIVE. This was a big exclamation point for me, and totally changed my view of working for finances. When we think of the spiritual purposes for work, we are able to change our selfish views of money and possessions. After all, we can't take it with us when we leave. And "God loves a cheerful giver!." Search your heart and act accordingly.
Love, Monica
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