Aiding The Poor

My husband half-laughed and then read the headline out loud (albeit totally misleading!), “Beware! Don’t give to those who look needy but are just too lazy to work.” (paraphrased)   It caused me to think about those who stand on street corners holding a cardboard sign that says “Please help.  Homeless.  Any amount.”  

I cringe sometimes since I’m not sure how to respond.  My instinct is to reach in my pocket and grab a couple dollar bills and give it away.

Yet there is so much information available about people who “panhandle” for a living.  There are horror stories about people who beg for money all day, then at day’s end, get in a high-end car and drive away.  How can we make a difference if we feel like we’re being hoodwinked and don’t have a clue?  

There are even awful stories of families who participate as “needy” at Christmas time for the Angel Tree program.  People give new clothes and toys to specific families and then the recipients turn around and take the new items back to the store for a refund (or gift card) to be spent the way they choose.  I expect most families don't do this, but somehow that takes the joy out of giving when you can’t even be sure the children in the family are given the gifts we’ve provided. 

I’ve considered the idea of buying gift cards from a fast food place to hand out instead of giving cash for the homeless, or just giving out clothes rather than taking them to Good Will or the Salvation Army.   I have absolutely no doubt there are those truly in need, but am uncertain about the best method to help!

I know Biblically we are called to take care of the poor.  My family was poor when I was growing up.  I don’t remember many “new” things, but we did accept recycled things from other members in our church family.  There was one Christmas my sister and I received a single gift because our family was going to take a trip that year and we were forewarned Christmas gift giving was going to be meager.

But there was an earlier Christmas, and I was too small to remember the details, but someone or a group of people provided us children with an amazing Christmas where I even received a beautiful new doll.  It was way more than my parents could have afforded and possibly we were part of the ‘Angel Tree’ category that year.  It’s a Christmas I’ll never forget.

Aiding the poor is what we are commanded to do in God’s Word more than once!  Does this mean we should only give to those “poor” who we know, given our culture of ‘get as much as you can, of what you want, in the easiest way possible’ mentality? Surely there must be a way to strike a balance.  

I look at my own closet and home and know I have WAY too much!  Should I could give it away?  Is that what Jesus meant when the wealthy young man asked how he could obtain eternal life and Jesus answered, 'sell what you have and give to the poor?'  We get very comfortable with our “material goods” and don’t think twice about shopping for more.  Is this being Christ like?  Is our focus on our worldly material goods, that will still be here when we die, rather than eternal life?

Sometimes it is.  We lose point on what is important.  Sure, it’s great to have nice things, but it’s better to have eternal life. Many of us, like myself, have too much. How about you?  What are your feelings on this subject?  How do you view the homeless person?  Do you find yourself drawing back with doubts on whether they “really need” and are using you, or do you give freely?  

Approval Addicts

            

           I remember while in high school wishing I could “fit in.”  I wasn’t in band, or in any clubs, wasn’t a cheerleader or attend football games or any other sports, attend parties, or do any of the other really “cool” stuff my peers seemed to be involved in.  I did well in school and had friends, but never saw them outside the classroom (or lunch room).  Because of my lack of “extra-curricular” activities, I was set apart. There were times when that bothered me; not always, but sometimes left me feeling like an outsider.

            We all have a deep-seated fear of rejection.  It’s important, especially at the teenage level, to feel like you belong and “fit in.”  There are horror stories about kids so intensely desiring to be part of “the crowd,” they partake of bad behaviors which can become habitual, like taking drugs, drinking alcohol, getting covered with body art and any number of other things.

            While we believe we eventually outgrow this need to fit in, sometimes we never do.  We still worry, “What do people think of me?”  This is especially evident in a room of mixed Believers and non-believers. In a one on one conversation, depending on who we are talking with, we may be willing to share our faith, if we are relatively certain talking about our faith won't ruin our relationship.  

            In a room of “mixed company” where the language may become offensive, or behaviors become less than Christ-like, we often tend to just shut down and not say anything.   We are certain if we do, it’s going to set us apart and our friends will be totally non-forgiving and non-understanding!

            Can you imagine what Mary, the teenaged mother of Jesus, must have felt? She was to be married to Joseph, yet here she was--- pregnant!  The scandal; worthy of stoning!  And to make matters worse, people would either think she engaged in pre-marital sex, or think her crazy to say the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  

            Can you imagine being visited by a sword carrying, brightly lit angel? There are some places in God’s Word which says those visited by angels were terrified. Even the angel who visited Mary said, “Do not be afraid.”   Our television world has images of angels as soft, tender and pleasant.  That isn’t necessarily a Biblical perception.  As she faced this angel, do you think she wondered what the world would say about her situation, her parents, or even Joseph? Perhaps she did consider this, but only for a moment, because her response to the news was, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)

Mary made the choice to accept the responsibility of carrying the Christ Child.  Would we be so brave? Would we, in today’s world, be more likely to consider our personal character defamation before we considered God’s instruction?  I think we often do.  We are certain we won’t “fit in,” we aren’t prepared, don’t have enough funds to do what He’s asked, are unwilling to risk ridicule, mockery, scorn or anything that makes us uncomfortable.

Rather than being an "approval addict," I encourage you to consider what God is calling/asking you to do.  Is it outside your comfort zone?  Will it place you in a situation where ridicule may be possible?  Noah, the apostles and others were in a good place for that, but they followed God’s call; as did Mary. Shouldn’t we?

Listening More Than We Talk

         

           I am a chatter.  Anyone who knows me (and probably some who don’t) have witnessed my compulsion to chat just because I can, and I completely enjoy it.  When I’m nervous, it’s worse.  I not only ramble, I do it in fast forward!  I don’t have to chat about anything important, I just want to converse about fun things to do, the weather, traveling, an outfit or hairstyle that is particularly cute, etc.  

            There are times when conversation can be intense and that can be pleasurable, as well.  When discussion is about those things in our lives that give value and meaning, it’s particularly interesting, especially given the various perceptions.  Talking about our families and children can be great! A dialogue about a good book is just fun and a discourse on a study project (especially one where I’m lost) is helpful!

            One area many people shy away from, at least in the public forum, is discussion on God’s Word.  Our culture has reached the point, where these kinds of discussions can be “hazardous to our health” politically and even sometimes physically, depending on where you live and who else is in the room.

            Dialogue is great; listening, however, can be a problem.  Even when we are having a conversation, sometimes we are forming conversation in our brain to speak, while the other person is still sharing their thoughts!  When this happens, we hear with our ears, but not necessarily with our minds or hearts.  This can even be seen in church services when the Pastor is sharing the message.  Instead of focusing on what he’s saying, we are thinking about what we’ll fix for lunch or dinner, who we might call on the phone later in the day, what football game, Nascar race, or other sports game might be on in the afternoon or thousand other things unique to each of us.

            When I have a Bible question sometimes I will ask the Pastor, other times I ask another friend who seems to have amazing discernment regarding God’s Word. I asked him once how he was so ‘versed’ in scripture.  He explained he was ‘discipled’ by Godly men from his church.  He met with them as a group from time to time, as well as, one on one during the week, with at least one of them.  His listened.  He grew!

            Having mentors is a great asset to our Christian growth.  The Bible is filled with answers to all our questions, but sometimes it helps to put our thoughts, emotions and perceptions on the table in front of someone who can take the information and with prayer, reach into God’s Word for clarity, giving us the advice we really need. It teaches us how to do this for ourselves.  But it requires time and listening!

            Time is something we seem to have little of in our day to day lives.  The moments rush by every day and we seldom accomplish everything we need to! Instead of 24 hours in the day, we need about 48!  Our priorities become skewed causing us to choose what we must do, and it doesn’t always include God’s Word, or even sharing with someone stronger in the faith than we are.  

            I encourage you to choose to ‘listen’.  Listen to your heart’s cry for wisdom that comes from the daily feeding of Christ—and meeting with a mentor to be discipled.  Choose to take the time for prayer and quiet time that allows us to hear from God.  This is where our answers can be found.

Overcoming Strongholds

Video games are the rage for young people, and to be fair, there are adults who also get lost in all the action and interaction of the games.  There is tactical roleplaying in battle strategy and other role-playing which can cause some to become so involved in the game they lose sight of what is real.

            These games have changed the atmosphere of our culture, as the themes of some of the games can compromise the line of good and evil.  But this isn’t the only place a stronghold of behavior can be seen that can be detrimental to relationships and our health.  It can be something as benign as food, shopping, food or work, or as frightening as alcohol, drugs, and even shame.  It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to fight the struggles that threaten to overcome us.  

            When we are “addicted” to anything that isn’t Christ-like, we tend to want to hide from God, believing there is no way we can be forgiven or be accepted in the Kingdom.  But the Good News is that God does not see us where we are or what we’ve done, or even as a “recovering addict,” but rather, where or what he has “purposed” for our lives!  Our identity is not in what we were, but as a child of God!  

            Satan is “on top” of everything we do, and will use the words we use, to destroy us.  He is the great deceiver and whispers lies that sound like truth.  Yet, he is terrified and trembles with fear and anger with every Believer in Christ who chooses to turn his back on his personal “strongholds.” Still satan will use our doubts in, or of, our faith when we waver, if only for a moment.  

Because we are forgiven we are made new and whole in Christ, and therefore, can face what seems like insurmountable challenges, because in Christ we can leave our strongholds at the cross.  We can face satan and demand his retreat when we proclaim freedom from evil through Christ.   By God’s grace we are given spiritual weapons to work with.  We’ve been blessed by the written Word of God, the name and blood of Jesus, the word of our testimony, prayer and the Holy Spirit. 

It is said our lives mirror our heart.  Each of us face daily circumstances which demand attention.  How we handle given situations will determine the attachment we have to our “strongholds.” Our natural tendencies are to return to those things which seem to elicit immediate pleasure even when we know it is wrong.  

But Christ went to the cross so we could overcome whatever ties this world has holding us down.  We are given the freedom, through Jesus’s blood, to become washed clean; boldly proclaiming we are no longer slaves to the strongholds that once were.

It’s a New Year!  It’s a great time for new beginnings.  Are there strongholds in your life separating you from intimacy with The Lord?  Start a new day with freedom in Christ.  God is right beside you waiting for you to invite Him in!  Use the spiritual weapons available to stand your ground against anything that delights in being a stronghold in your life, that keeps you from Jesus.