When I was younger, I was filled with questions about how God did things. I used to think He couldn’t possibly know me by name, there was just too many people living in the world for this. I grew up in a tight-knit Christian community, and my family taught me and my siblings strong morals about do-rightness from the very beginning. I was taught about Heavenly Father probably before I could fully articulate words, so my conversations with God started very early in life. But even though I knew of Him and talked with Him often as a youngster, it took many years to wrap my head around the reality that I mattered to Him, that He created me for a purpose, and He cares deeply about me.
People are literally devastated in life because they don’t know that God loves them, and that He knows every detail of their existence. This is especially true of those that have lost everything they care about. I met such a person the other day when I was out with my daughter. She was begging people on the street for money, and I observed both this lady and the reaction of others to her. Her appearance was disheveled, and quite frankly, she looked in desperate need of a shower. I could hear my daughter repeating under her breath, “Please don’t come over here.” And indeed, this was the reaction of everyone else. Most would not even make eye contact with her.
Well, this woman approached my daughter and me. It is very commonplace these days to see those begging for money, and it is very common for them to use the money they are given to feed their addictions. Because of this, many people will not give money, but will give food, bus passes, toiletries, socks, or nothing at all. The thing we must remember is that believers are under a different obligation when it comes to those in need. Proverbs 28:27 (NLT) tells us, “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” James 1:26-27 The Message (MSG) says, “Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.”
We are also commanded by Jesus Christ to “feed his sheep.” It is never a bad idea to run the risk of being overzealous with giving. I believe that if it is truly our intent to be a blessing, through the Holy Spirit within God will reveal that an opportunity is before us. So, when met with those begging for money, my practice is to first check-in with the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This woman was crying and gave me a story that I was sure she had used several times before, but I’ve learned not to be dissuaded from giving by the lies a person tells. I asked her immediately if she knew Jesus Christ for herself, and if she’d accepted him as her Lord and Savior. She responded, “Yes, absolutely!” I talked briefly with her about salvation, and I was left with the feeling that she did know the Lord at one time but lost her way. I had a couple of dollars in my pocket, and I reached into it and gave them to her. I sensed that I wouldn’t see her again, and I wanted her to know that I gave for no other reason than to let her know God loves her; that He sees her life, and it matters.
We must always be extremely cautious and careful when it comes to those who beg on the streets. But we must also be careful not to allow the tentacles of fear to wrap itself around our responsibility and privilege to give. If we are praying and trusting in God, He will guide us in our giving and tell us who to give to. The most important thing is that we don’t overlook a God-inspired opportunity to both tell and show strangers that He loves them. I don’t make a habit of giving money to scammers, but they wouldn’t do it if they truly knew the Lord Jesus Christ, and on any given day, we could be the conduits to his love they need to see most.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“All Lives Matter to God” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.