Hurrying out of a store, I thought I heard a voice behind a column next to me. Quickly turning my head towards the voice, I was met with a pair of the kindest eyes. The eyes belonged to a young man, my age or a little younger; his clothes were soiled, hair unkept, but his voice was soft and calming. He said, “I did not mean to scare you, but do you have some change to spare.” I gave him the cash that was in my hand. He said thank you and apologized again for scaring me. As I entered my car, I kept thinking of the young man’s eyes and voice. Although confident that I did not know him personally, it felt like I knew him.
On another day, while riding with my neighbor I spotted him. I told my neighbor of our chance encounter, and my neighbor knew of him. Stating that he was an employee, husband, and faithful church attender at one time. And although my neighbor was not able to find out what brought about the change that we were witnessing; there was evidence of a drastic change.
In my heart I felt that I should bless him whenever I saw him, and I did. He always seemed reluctant to receive the money, but I would urge him to take it. Making sure to say, “God bless you” as he departed. And on his stubborn days I would say, “Do not make me miss my blessing.” Ironically, he began to ignore me as if he were refusing to receive money from me. And one day he disappeared. Searching for him several times, I began to feel that my season of blessing him was over. Reluctant to think that something bad may have happened to him.
To my delight, I crossed his path again. He was traveling his usual path, but he looked different. He had on a clean clothes, hair was cut, and his chin was up. I honked my horn as I passed, and he gave a smile and a wave. I began to pass him at the bus stop several days a week, and he would always smile and wave. I do not know what turn of events were happening in his personal life. All I know is it was laid on my heart to repeatedly bless this man, and I did.
Things to remember that the Bible states about the poor:
Deuteronomy 15:7-8; 10-11 “If there is a poor man among you, one of your fellow Israelites, in [d]any of your cities in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not [e]be heartless, nor [f]close-fisted with your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend to him [g]whatever he needs. 10 You shall freely and generously give to him, and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to him, because for this [generous] thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. 11 For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’ (The Amplified Bible. Bible Gateway, biblegateway.com, Accessed May 3, 2021).
This scripture tells us that the poor will be with us always. As Christians, we should position ourselves to be an answer to the problems of the poor. Blessed to be a blessing should not be a catchy phrase for us, it is a call to action. And bless from the kindness of our hearts, not snobby, resentful, or grudgingly because God is watching us. He will deal with us as we deal with them.
James 2:2-4 2 For if a man comes into your [a]meeting place [b]wearing a gold ring and [c]fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who wears the [d]fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in this good seat,” and you tell the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down [on the floor] by my footstool,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with wrong motives? (The Amplified Bible. Bible Gateway, biblegateway.com, Accessed May 3, 2021).
Do not assume the poor is lazy, undisciplined, or make any assumptions about how they became poor. As Christians we have no right to judge the poor, our position is to be grateful for what God has supplied us and bless the poor.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered. (The Amplified Bible. Bible Gateway, biblegateway.com, Accessed May 3,2021).
Compassion is a characteristic of God and we should strive to show this to our fellow mankind. Being mindful of our needs will help us to be mindful of other’s and their needs. God deliver blessings to us from the hands of others, likewise our hands can be used to bless someone as well.
Proverbs 19:17 He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord, And the Lord will repay him for his good deed. (The Amplified Bible. Bible Gateway, biblegateway.com, Accessed May 3,2021).
We will reap what we sow. God has a watchful eye on the poor, and he sees how we treat them. Not only do he see us but repays us for our effort.
As Christians we should thank God for our provisions, ask for wisdom in how to distribute our wealth, and do what He says. Not thinking more highly of ourselves because we have abundance but considering our abundance as an opportunity to bless those less fortunate than we. Never turning a blinded eye to a need but following the Holy Spirit as He leads us into giving, sharing, and blessing others. It is true that we cannot give to every cause, but we must be attentive to the Holy Spirit and bless who He directs us to bless.
Categories: Journey
