On a recent trip into the city, I noticed people stationed on several street corners. Their clean, coordinated T-shirts announced a common goal—to help end homelessness. One of them approached me offering information. As I paused there on the street, I noticed a homeless man standing just a few feet away. I saw his scruffy outfit and downcast look. Although the advocates for the homeless were doing a good thing, they seemed oblivious to the man. No one spoke to him or offered him food.
There are many noble organizations that exist to make the world a better place. There’s a difference between campaigning for a cause, however, and showing genuine, compassionate care for people God places in our path (James 2:15-16).
In the Old Testament, God encouraged the Israelites to be generous to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7). Later, He said, “When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain. . . . leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows” (Deuteronomy 24:19). If they followed God’s lead, a blessing would result. But they weren’t supposed to aid the needy just to get good stuff from God. They were to help because they once needed help themselves. As slaves in Egypt, they had been trapped in a place of disadvantage (Deuteronomy 24:22).
The Bible says that God is a “tower of refuge” for the underprivileged (Isaiah 25:4). And He considers it a personal favor when we assist poor people. Jesus said, “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. . . . When you [helped] the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:35,40). As we serve others, we’re serving our Savior too.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ephesians 2:1-22
More:
Read Luke 14:12-14 to see how Jesus viewed our compassionate care for less fortunate people. Look up James 2:1-6 to learn how actions reveal attitudes toward the rich and the poor.
Next:
How has God met your needs? Does this motivate you to reach out to other people? Why or why not?
gary1schelvan on November 30, 2015 at 1:07 am
Dear JBS,
Your posting is so powerful, in light of the time of the year we are entering..Christmas time. It is so appropriate, because we are so abundantly blessed with so much “stuff.” Unfortunately there are so many just in the USA who don’t have 2 nickels to rub together, for a variety of reasons. It is so clear to me, that the Lord is telling us to share what we have in abundance to help some of those less fortunate then ourselves. It can be as simple as some bottled water and fruit, a sandwich from a fast food place. If you want, you can even give of your self in the form of time doing some volunteer work, no lack of need for that type of help. So as James said, Faith without works is dead faith. A natural outflow from your faith in Jesus Christ, will be concern and compassion for others, backed up by concrete action to help. Thank you Jennifer, a beautiful and thought provoking devotional. May your Christmas season be filled with warmth and a close connection to our Lord…Hallelujah!
BearPair on November 30, 2015 at 1:32 am
Ouch! Poignant exhortation & reminder to us who, regardless of our personal situations, “have so much!” People can say what they will about the Deuteronomy passage being OT, shouldn’t that be the model for those calling ourselves “Christ-ones”? It always amazes me that “we” always have money for various projects & desires, yet, as your illustration describes, we can walk right past the very person in need. Thank you, Jennifer, for these timely words!
janntee on November 30, 2015 at 3:55 am
I visited the Vatican City and St Peters when I was in Rome, the number of homeless broke my heart, there un a holy place and no one was doing anything to help them. I see many people collecting for homelessness but I wonder hoe much actually goes to the cause. In a country like ours homelessness can happen to anyone , anytime with the way the vulnerable are persecuted. food banks are the norm, even people who work need to use them, then you have those who abuse the system pretending to be homeless. In a world like ours discernment is necessary and eyes that see genuine need and hands that want to help.
jennifer benson schuldt on November 30, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Janntee,
Thanks for your response. Ironically, my son’s class took a field trip to a local food bank this morning. He was enthusiastic about “his mission” for the day. His child’s view of helping other people seemed so pure–so loving. His attitude inspired me. Why not get more involved in service that directly helps people who don’t have enough to eat or a place to sleep? Our direct involvement is one way to address that (great) question you raised about where the money goes. If food, clothing, and money pass from our hands directly to theirs, that seems like a good thing!
Gary Shultz on November 30, 2015 at 8:19 am
You do have a wonderful way with your articles. Nobel is an excellent description to describe many people and organizations, but as you pointed out sometimes the need is not what is seen. People want to matter, people want to be part of a cause that seems to have results for their worth. You are correct that there are still many orgs that are extensions of Gods hands. And there you bring the article to the point, serving God. Not serving a cause, but serving God. The ownership of the act should belong to a greater and more loving One than ourselves and He will return the blessing to us. Thanks
sierramist07 on November 30, 2015 at 10:22 am
Helping the poor is not doing a favor for God. The Bible makes it very clear how God feels when we do not take care of the poor and less fortunate. It does not make Him happy and there will be negative consequences. Christians need to stop acting like this is an option. It is not. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. John 13: 34-35.
Deuteronomy 24:14 “Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns.”
Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.
Prov. 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.
Proverbs 31:9 “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Isa. 58:6 “No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. Isa. 58:7 I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute. Clothe those who are cold, and don’t hide from relatives who need your help. Isa. 58:8 “If you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Isa. 58:9 Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. All you need to do is to stop oppressing the weak and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Isa. 58:10 “Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. Isa. 58:11 And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Ezekiel 16: 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Amos 2:6-7 “This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.'”
Malachi 3:5 “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
Luke 14:13 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.”
Luke 18:22 “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
Your sister in Christ,
sierramist07
Tom Felten on November 30, 2015 at 10:37 am
Jennifer, I’m reminded of the way Boaz had his men leave some leave some of the grain for Ruth to pick up as she worked in the field (Ruth 2:1-23). This showed true compassion but also protected her dignity. May God give us wisdom to reach out to those in need in a way that will help and not hurt them in the long run.
poohpity on November 30, 2015 at 2:51 pm
God has given us opportunities everyday to reach out to others in His name. Open our eyes and hearts to see without sitting in judgement of the reasons but just to fill the need and when we do it in your name we will not be bothered with how the recipients use it. One never knows if we are entertaining an angel or the Lord Himself.
Winn Collier on December 6, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Seeing those people in our very midst, good reminder.