What Do You See?

Over the last couple of years we have seen an increase of panhandlers in our area. They sit on the corners of our shopping and restaurant district, usually at a stoplight. They hold a sign to let us know they are homeless and have a family to feed. Many will wave to you as you drive by. For a long time I thought things like, "Great there goes our town" or "Why don't you just go get a job". Several months ago the local paper did a piece on these men and woman. It gave them a chance to share their story. These are not criminals. They are not lazy people. They are people with families, some who used to hold good jobs but are victims of this economy, and some have made some bad choices in the past. That started to change my view, but slowly. Then recently I felt the Holy Spirit compel me to not only give a little something, but to also talk to them. It took several weeks but this week I finally did it. What I found was exactly what was reported in the paper. These are good people going through hard times trying to get by until something changes for the better. I was glad I stopped and could make a small contribution. It was well worth it.

What do you see when you see people like this? Do you judge them? Are you skeptical? I realize some of you might think I was stupid or a sucker to be roped in by these "con men", but that's ok because I don't.

Jesus said this:

Matthew 25:34-46 New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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 ³⁶ I 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? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters 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.⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I 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, ‘Truly I tell you, 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.”

We are to take care of the those in need. Feed them and clothe them. What has always amazed me is that people will travel thousands of mies around the world to do this for people in another country, but take a harsh attitude towards those in a similar situation right there in their own neighborhood. 

Friends we are to reflect Jesus and everyday, everywhere and every time we are given an opportunity to do that, but we need to obey. We need to respond to the prompting of the spirit.

So when you see someone like this what do you see? A lazy beggar or Jesus?

Until next time,

Pastor Paul