Blessed is the one who considers the poor! Psalm 41: 1a
If you have known me very long, you know my heart for those without a place to call home or those who lack the basic necessities. The more I think about these fellow-travelers, the more I want to engage my own senses in what they experience in their day-to-day existence. How do I “consider” these poor, weak, vulnerable men and women made in the image of God the same as me?
CONSIDER
I pass him by and turn my face
to look the other way?
I sip my drink to quench my thirst—
ignore his thirsty day?
I spend my paycheck mindlessly
to boost my grasping greed,
While hunger pangs sing hopeless tunes
to magnify his need.
Her car, the only home she has;
her dog, her only friend;
Her children, pawns for custody;
abuse that has no end;
Her choices in the past have come
to haunt her troubled heart,
When I could give encouragement.
But her plight? Not my part!
Is it enough for me to say,
“God bless …” and turn away?
Is it enough to say a prayer,
and think I’ve done okay?
No, I think not. But, rather I
should feel and see the need—
Of love and lodging, trust and time,
of faith and bread to feed.
To give myself I, then, invite
the Savior’s love to share
With someone who, unloved and sad,
has more than they can bear.
Made in God’s image, flesh and blood—
our family—our skin,
To give ourselves may open up
their heart that Christ may win.
June E. Titus
Jesus said:
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25: 35-40
Isaiah wrote:
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58: 7
We need to remember that throughout the Holy Bible we are instructed to serve others and be charitable. Yes, sharing our love is our spiritual duty. More than a duty, however, Christian charity emerges from an inner being transformed by the grace of God.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4: 7-9
Many people do not want to get involved in the lives of the down-and-outer because they fear for their safety. Others assume anyone who is homeless is either on drugs/alcohol, mentally ill, or dead-beats. Yes, we may feel vulnerable to issues of safety or think anything we do is an exercise in futility. When Christ calls, however, we need to look at ways we can serve Him by serving the least and the lost.
Such service includes but is not exclusive to:
- Financially supporting organizations that provide shelter and food to those in need
- Recognizing the humanity of all peoples and demonstrate God’s compassion and empathy to them
- Generously sharing in ways each person is able:
- clothing, cash, commitment,
- food, friendship, time
- Praying: with and/or for them—by name if you know their name
- Volunteering at a homeless shelter
Challenge:
Assess your attitudes, motives, and actions in how you serve the Lord. Do you default to the comfortable, or are you willing to stretch your vulnerability toward the unloved and unlovely? Remember, God loves you even when you are unlovable!
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 6-8
Prayer:
Father in heaven, forgive me for my lack of consideration, compassion, and provision of comfort toward others. Open my heart to their needs, helping me to feel their hurt and hunger. Give me a willing heart to submit to Your Word and be open to Your guidance. As I give myself to humanity, I give myself to You and serve the least and the lost as I would serve Jesus.
Amen.
Promise:
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19: 17
All scripture texts taken from English Standard Version (ESV)
[i] This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
