Whatever you have done to the least of these

[murlough23]

I've realized lately that I tend to treat homeless people and panhandlers with a hefty amount of contempt. This might be because I am skittish around strangers when I'm out in public places in general, so I don't care whether you're wearing a tattered, dirty shirt, or a suit and tie - if you approach me on the street, I'm going to feel threatened by the inherent awkwardness of the encounter and want to dodge my way out of it as quickly as possible. Doesn't matter what color your skin is, doesn't matter whether you want to sell me something or you want me to give you a handout or you want to give me free movie tickets to your crappy unfinished film or whatever. I will feel awkward and get the hell out of there with the minimal amount of conversation necessary.

But how long can I use my own social awkwardness - and paranoia about safety - as an excuse? I've had two separate incidents within the last two weeks where I've been approached by a panhandler in a parking lot, and I've been already irritated with whatever errand I needed to run that was taking longer than I expected, so I very gruffly told the person giving me the spiel about how he needed money to eat that I would prefer just being left alone. I know that it takes two seconds to whip out my wallet and hand over a few measly dollar bills. It's not like I can't afford it. But all of the rationalizations go through my mind - You're being scammed. He just wants to buy booze. If you pull out your wallet, you make yourself vulnerable to being robbed. On and on it goes.

This isn't how the Bible teaches me to treat these people. But I've been scammed before (gave money to a woman in Berkeley once who supposedly needed a bus ticket to go see her pregnant sister up north or whatever, and after I walked away, the friend I was with told me she had been approached by the same woman in the same spot multiple times). So I feel like I should come up with some sort of a wise way to actually help combat the problem of homelessness and joblessness (which is becoming more prevalent in our sewer-bound economy) without putting money into the hands of scammers who may well have homes and be able to work, but who have decided it's easier to just stand on a street corner and make more than minimum wage in free handouts per hour. I can't tell the difference, but I want the money to go those who actually need it.

I had thought of getting gift certificates to some sort of fast food place that doesn't sell booze, and handing those out when asked, so that they can't do anything but buy food with it. I've heard of people who keep a stash of business cards for homeless shelters on hand and give those out instead, offering the person a chance to go somewhere that will give them more long-term help. I don't know if either of these solutions are realistic. I've had friends who have actually gone so far as to give homeless folks a lift to some sort of food place and buy them something... but that's a personal safety boundary that I am not willing to cross.

I don't want to be one of those Christians who nitpicks at the specks in the eyes of those who break my personal list of commandments, while turning a blind eye to "the least of these" and having to answer for that later. How do I be compassionate while still being wise?

[Vlad!]

You raise a good question. I have two responses and a caveat.

First of all, I think the Biblical model for helping the poor isn't a fire-and-forget "here's five bucks, go buy yourself a big mac" deal so much as getting involved in the lives of those you want to help so that you can improve those lives. I'd feel a lot better about taking someone to lunch and talking with him over said lunch and inviting him out to church than I would just giving him a wad o' dough.

Second, I think there's only so much control you're really expected to exert over someone else's life. It's a slice of the classic parenting dilemma: my child is living her life in a way I disagree with; at what point do I cut her loose and let her experience the consequences of her behavior? In the same way, at what point should you deny someone the opportunity to buy food just because you suspect it's a scam or that the person is going to buy alcohol or drugs with that money? Not an easy call, and I wouldn't criticize you for coming down on either side of the issue.

The caveat is that I live in a very affluent area and I don't recall the last time I saw someone asking me for money. It's easy for me to say "do this" or "do that" and then feel good about myself because I volunteer a few times a year at local ministries and give a few bucks to the rescue mission, while I'm still not getting personally involved in the lives of individuals in need in my community.

Especially if you're in a hurry or are concerned for your safety, it's a lot easier to walk on by. Maybe you could set aside a specific time, maybe on a weekend or during a lunch break a couple times a month, where you have a few bills in your pocket (and don't have to get out your wallet) and don't have anywhere in particular you need to be. Just take a walk, enjoy the air, and if you get the opportunity then give those bills out. Maybe invite the person out to lunch somewhere within easy walking distance, or maybe carry a bunch of pre-made food in a backpack and offer to share. Your idea of gift certificates is also a good one.

[murlough23]

I will probably never invite a complete stranger to lunch with me, or to get in my car, etc. That's just a personal boundary that I will not cross for safety reasons. Maybe 99% of panhandlers aren't the type who would try to take advantage of a situation and attempt to rob or attack someone who gave them that window, but you just never know, especially 'round these parts.

But I do believe in making a lasting change rather than just throwing a temporary wad of cash at the problem that will be spent and put the person right back where they started the next day. Perhaps there is something I can do for a local shelter, or some way I can raise awareness of it when approached by someone who clearly needs it, etc., that will contribute toward a solution to the problem rather than being a band-aid. I'd rather send them to someone who can 'teach the man to fish" - invest the time and energy into getting them cleaned up and enabling them to find job interviews, etc., rather than just "catching the man a fish" for one day. My church has helped out with these sorts of organizations before, so I'll see what sort of literature they've got.

As for living in a more "affluent" area, you'd think that's where a beggar would go since there'd be a higher likelihood of a random person they approach being able to throw away the cash without a second thought. Then again, such neighborhoods may go so far as to outlaw panhandling (though enforcement of such laws is sketchy), or they may get pressured/intimidated into leaving such areas. It is sad to me that some places would outlaw this for no other reason than their apparent desire to not be inconvenienced or made to feel awkward by these specters of society. But then again, there are the safety issues I noted above. If a bunch of homeless people are camping out in a park, chances are nobody else is gonna want to hang out in that park. If a homeless guy is panhandling outside of a business, that intimidates people from wanting to go inside that store, thus dragging the store owners' well-being down. At some point it affects everyone else and it is no longer "not my problem". It never should have been "not my problem".

It's not like where I live is exactly the ghetto or anything... but the Greater Los Angeles area is a weird patchwork of neighborhoods of very different classes with thin and erratic boundaries between them, so despite real estate being untouchably expensive here for a middle class working Joe such as myself, it doesn't feel upscale just walking around. I'm not sure if the ridiculous cost of living here just creates more of a homeless problem here than in your area, or if it's a simple manner of there being too many freaking people in general.

[Vlad!]

I will probably never invite a complete stranger to lunch with me, or to get in my car, etc. That's just a personal boundary that I will not cross for safety reasons. Maybe 99% of panhandlers aren't the type who would try to take advantage of a situation and attempt to rob or attack someone who gave them that window, but you just never know, especially 'round these parts.

I don't know how it is 'round those parts, but I'd feel safer with a complete stranger in a restaurant than on a random street. I have invited a hitchhiker into my car--once--and would probably do so again if opportunity and convenience aligned again (not that helping others should depend on my convenience, but I can only help so much), so obviously I have less of an issue about this than you do. However, I respect that, which is why I suggested taking the person to a restaurant in walking distance. But I certainly won't look down on you if you decline, especially since I don't know the situation 'round those parts.

But I do believe in making a lasting change rather than just throwing a temporary wad of cash at the problem that will be spent and put the person right back where they started the next day. Perhaps there is something I can do for a local shelter, or some way I can raise awareness of it when approached by someone who clearly needs it, etc., that will contribute toward a solution to the problem rather than being a band-aid. I'd rather send them to someone who can 'teach the man to fish" - invest the time and energy into getting them cleaned up and enabling them to find job interviews, etc., rather than just "catching the man a fish" for one day. My church has helped out with these sorts of organizations before, so I'll see what sort of literature they've got.

Sounds very reasonable. I know my church will occasionally print little business cards with a small map on one side and the address/phone number of the church on the other, and maybe some rescue missions do the same.

As for living in a more "affluent" area, you'd think that's where a beggar would go since there'd be a higher likelihood of a random person they approach being able to throw away the cash without a second thought....I'm not sure if the ridiculous cost of living here just creates more of a homeless problem here than in your area, or if it's a simple manner of there being too many freaking people in general.

There's a lot less population pressure, and the po' people are generally in Raleigh and Durham rather than out here in the suburbs. Unlike California, where in everywhere I've been you can walk from point A to point B without endangering life and limb, there are few sidewalks around here in Morrisville/RTP and thus there aren't many places for homeless people to hang out, and there aren't many pedestrians for them to solicit even if they did choose to hang out there.

It wouldn't surprise me if Cary had a no-panhandling law, because that town has the reputation of trying to keep itself looking spiffy-clean and safe. I don't know about Morrisville. It's also the case that buying and owning property is an order of magnitude more affordable here, so people who might be forced to the street in California can afford an apartment in South Durham or Raleigh.

[NewDimension]

First of all, I think the Biblical model for helping the poor isn't a fire-and-forget "here's five bucks, go buy yourself a big mac" deal so much as getting involved in the lives of those you want to help so that you can improve those lives. I'd feel a lot better about taking someone to lunch and talking with him over said lunch and inviting him out to church than I would just giving him a wad o' dough.

I definetely agree. I've thought about this in-depth before, considering how to be wise while maintaining your safety yet still reaching out to others with compassion, and I also think taking the person to a restaurant near-by is a good idea. That way you can invest more into their life on a personal level, and it's probably a safer environment since there's usually more people in a restuarant. But I also understand why people wouldn't want to do that, how it seems so awkward; and if you're really busy and you don't have much time to do that, it wouldn't necessarily work out really well. The idea you had for gift certificates is another really good idea. I think I'd probably add a note or something with it though. I'd also confirm that the gift certificates couldn't be exchanged for cash... (I've been to places where they'd allow a certain amount of gift certificates to be redeemed for cash. Which is reasonable, I actually prefer that idea as a whole, but in this circumstance you'd prefer it wasn't redeemable.). Also, you could choose one day of the week or month, etc, (doesn't matter when) to specifically deliver a meal to someone who appears to be homeless. Or you could just go and volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter and/or some church or community outreach that's designated to help those who are homeless. You could also donate some finances to organizations that you favor that feature such outreaches. There's many different ways we can reach out to others though, we just have to think about it more thoroughly.

Where I live, there's a fair amount of people who ask for money. Over here though, there's more people who hold signs that say something like, "Homeless, need food. God Bless." Stuff like that. Everytime I see someone with one of those signs... it kind of makes me indigant because there's so many people on the streets like that, and few people actually care enough to get involved with their lives (including myself at times)... while they could be out there dying (literally) and without the knowlege of His love (dying spiritually). These are just people we pass by everyday without really even thinking twice about helping them, whether their story is legit or not, while they're the very people we should be out there trying to help.   

[murlough23]

I don't feel comfortable accompanying a stranger anywhere, particularly one who wants me to give them something. I want to help the person if I can and then get the hell out of there. I'm not interested in building a relationship with them. I realize that might sound a bit impersonal, but I think in this case that it's just plain practical. If you get involved in a person's life out of nowhere like that, the expectation is that you will continue to remain involved, and I think this creates the expectation that because you helped them once, you'll be there to see them all the way through. So I believe in being extremely careful with that. Given infinite time, sure, I could play that role for every needy person I see. But I've been burned before by getting involved with people in financially precarious situations, and then having to cut them off at some point because it became co-dependent and having that reflect poorly on me. I would much rather send them to someone whose job it is to rehabilitate them.

For similar reasons, I would never pick up a hitchhiker. I've seen too many horror stories about stuff that happened when somebody decided to trust a stranger, especially in a more urban environment.

The "gift certificate" issue sounds like it could get into legalities about whether they can be turned in for cash value, and that's really not something I want to go to the trouble of policing. If someone wants to misuse a gift that I give them, I suppose that's their prerogative. This is why I'm leaning towards the idea of making them aware of a resource that can help fix their situation, rather than just throwing something of monetary value at them.

As for whether the story is legit - if a person's gonna concoct a lie just to get money out of someone who might otherwise not give it to them, I don't think they deserve my help. Obviously they need help in some form, but if you have legitimate need for money, state your legitimate need and don't embellish it. If you don't have a legitimate need (i.e. you have a home and you've just figured this is an easier way to make money than flipping burgers), then well, you shouldn't be out on the street panhandling.

[Vlad!]

I would be willing to get involved in someone's life so long as there are clear boundaries. I would also do so with the expectation of improvement. For example, my family group at church generally goes somewhere to eat after service; saying "you can come eat with us and I'll buy your lunch on Sundays if you come to the service" seems reasonable. Even if the person only sits (or sleeps) through church in order to get a free meal, at least I'm helping provide food and a good environment for someone, and maybe the person would experience the changing power of Christ and become a brother or sister!

I don't feel comfortable accompanying a stranger anywhere, particularly one who wants me to give them something. I want to help the person if I can and then get the hell out of there. I'm not interested in building a relationship with them.

Well, OK, that's a fairly safe attitude. I don't want to sound judgmental (though I'm sure I do), but when I look at the life of Christ that's not the attitude I see. I realize I'm not going out there and getting involved in the lives of the homeless, so please take this as the thoughts of a fellow Christian struggling to work out how to apply what we believe rather than condemnation from some guy who thinks he has it all figured out. Personally, if someone asks me for my coat, I want to be prepared to give him my cloak also.

[murlough23]

Well, OK, that's a fairly safe attitude. I don't want to sound judgmental (though I'm sure I do), but when I look at the life of Christ that's not the attitude I see. I realize I'm not going out there and getting involved in the lives of the homeless, so please take this as the thoughts of a fellow Christian struggling to work out how to apply what we believe rather than condemnation from some guy who thinks he has it all figured out. Personally, if someone asks me for my coat, I want to be prepared to give him my cloak also.

I suppose I opened myself up for that criticism.

It appears that I need to work on my general mistrust of strangers first before I'm gonna be ready for a heart change in this area. At present, I wouldn't be comfortable inviting a well-dressed, nice-smelling, and 100% harmless-looking stranger off the street to come to church or go anywhere else with me.

[Vlad!]

Hm, it's interesting because I have the opposite hang-up: I have no problem inviting random people to church. They say no, I never see them again, I'm out nothing but feel like I did the right thing. They say yes, they're potential brothers and sisters. But with people I know, I don't want to alienate them or appear to be a fanatic, so I don't bust out an invitation unless I feel like there's real interest there. Maybe you can work on your heart for strangers and I can work on my boldness with acquaintances (and possibly my sense of self-preservation).

[murlough23]

My inherent fear of strangers aside, there's a logic to why I generally wouldn't invite a random stranger to church. I tend to think that there's not much reason for some person I don't even know to agree with or care what I believe if there isn't a relationship there that shows me to be trustworthy and not just someone who's trying to increase the attendance at his church. (I'm not saying you've only got the numbers in mind or anything - I'm sure you're 100% genuine in your invitations. I'm more concerned with how it comes across and how this then invites scrutiny and misunderstanding of my actions, as well as the actions of the people who go to my church, because the person who is a stranger to me has no reference point.)

It's kind of the same reason why I'm not a huge fan of preaching to random people on the street. Do they need to hear the news? Absolutely. And sometimes that method works. But sometimes I think it works better to establish a relationship with a person and then invite them to consider your belief system when there's some sort of a mutual understanding between the two of you. You've earned their trust. This is obviously a much slower way of evangelizing the world, but it's a more genuine way.

This is why I prefer the model of missions that go out and do something tangible for a church or village or some group of people in some far-flung country or your local inner city or whatever. I think if the good deeds prefer the pitch to consider my religion, it's a way of putting our money where our mouth is, and it builds a certain level of trust and understanding. I've heard of mission trips that do something lasting that continues to affect the people there long after the missions team has pulled up the stakes and gone back home, I've heard of long-term missionaries who commit to staying there, and I've heard of people who go and hand out tracts and kind words and whatever but really leave no lasting influence.

But I'm getting off-topic. Given my own personal quirks, I'm having trouble offering anything of spiritual or physical value to a stranger. And that's the crux of my issue here - recognizing the problem and taking baby steps to get over it. I know I can't take on too much too fast, because I'm the kind of guy who would rather try to influence a few people for Christ through lasting relationships that take time to build, rather than through erratic random acts of kindness that may be well-intentioned but lack the follow-up. It's just a recognition that I can't help every cause that I come across, but that I want to be ready, willing, and able to help the causes and the people that God lays on my heart - and to do that at a moment's notice when the situation seems to call for it.

NP: "Come Home", Cindy Morgan

[Vlad!]

My inherent fear of strangers aside, there's a logic to why I generally wouldn't invite a random stranger to church. I tend to think that there's not much reason for some person I don't even know to agree with or care what I believe if there isn't a relationship there that shows me to be trustworthy and not just someone who's trying to increase the attendance at his church. (I'm not saying you've only got the numbers in mind or anything - I'm sure you're 100% genuine in your invitations. I'm more concerned with how it comes across and how this then invites scrutiny and misunderstanding of my actions, as well as the actions of the people who go to my church, because the person who is a stranger to me has no reference point.)

I actually agree with this, but it's hard to form a relationship if you never see the person . When I say "bring to Church", I mean "invite the person in to my spiritual family", so it's not just like "bam, you're here, now I'll let God do his thing" so much as "this is what I'm about so if we're going to have a relationship at all it's going to start here".

It's kind of the same reason why I'm not a huge fan of preaching to random people on the street. Do they need to hear the news? Absolutely. And sometimes that method works. But sometimes I think it works better to establish a relationship with a person and then invite them to consider your belief system when there's some sort of a mutual understanding between the two of you. You've earned their trust. This is obviously a much slower way of evangelizing the world, but it's a more genuine way.

I agree with this too. Street preaching is much more of a hindrance than a help, since people associate Christianity with something annoying rather than something positive. But if I see someone on the street who needs help, I feel like the best way to provide that help is to try and start a relationship.

But I'm getting off-topic. Given my own personal quirks, I'm having trouble offering anything of spiritual or physical value to a stranger. And that's the crux of my issue here - recognizing the problem and taking baby steps to get over it. I know I can't take on too much too fast, because I'm the kind of guy who would rather try to influence a few people for Christ through lasting relationships that take time to build, rather than through erratic random acts of kindness that may be well-intentioned but lack the follow-up. It's just a recognition that I can't help every cause that I come across, but that I want to be ready, willing, and able to help the causes and the people that God lays on my heart - and to do that at a moment's notice when the situation seems to call for it.

I think that the great commission applies to everyone and it is the duty of every Christian to plant seeds and bear fruit, but I also believe that God grants us different capacities for doing this. This is where I think it's good that the Bible gives us more than just Christ as a model--obviously he is the exemplar of the Christian faith, but he also is divine and as such while on earth had an infinite capacity for loving others and sharing the good news about the kingdom of God.

Still, for some reason I'm reminded of where Jesus had heard of the death of John the Baptist in Matthew 14. His cousin--and quite probably his greatest admirer--had just been brutally killed by Herod for a reason that honestly seems rather trite and not worthy of the life lived by the great man of God. He withdrew to a solitary place, but the crowds followed him there. If anyone ever had a good excuse to say "not now, guys, I'm not feeling that great" it was him at that moment, but the Bible says he had compassion on them and began healing them. Even when given an excuse to send them away (it's late and they're hungry), rather than doing so he provided food for them. This to me is a really inspiring and convicting picture of how we are intended to be as well (Phil 2:5--our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus) regarding those who need what we have to offer even when we don't feel like offering it.

[Wildcatblue7]

My church puts bags of bottled water, granola bars, stuff like that (plus a Bible) together and people are encouraged to hand them out to panhandlers.  I know some people throw in gift certificates to McDonalds or other really close fast food joints and apparently people are really receptive to those bags.  They're cheap and less awkward than throwing money at them.

That said, I roll my windows up and lock the doors just before I get to particular intersections near where I live.  The same people are there every day.  One lady is clearly not in full control of her faculties.  The others look more like the scam artist type.  I don't know, mur, this is something I struggle with as well.

I have incredible respect for our minister on this issue--not infrequently he takes homeless guys down to Wendy's, pays for their lunch, and then chats it up with them.  I want to have faith that brazen.  I definitely need to work on getting over my dislike of people being my bubble--Jesus wasn't afraid to get close to people, and I definitely am.

[bethany]

This is a hard issue. I live near downtown, and am on occasion approached by people wanting money. Once a woman even tried to flag me down when I was driving down the street in my car. Our landlord has encouraged us not to give panhandlers in the area money, because a few of them have been known to then follow people who give them money, figure out where they live, and ring the doorbells, harass people coming and going for money, etc. I almost never have cash on me, anyway, so I can honestly say, "Sorry, I don't have any cash" and keep walking. The fact that I'm a woman adds another layer of complication, as I feel especially vulnerable, and am certainly not going to ask a strange man to accompany me to McDonald's or anywhere else. My husband gave a random older woman a ride the other day (it was about -10 deg. F out) for a few blocks, but was still careful not to tell her where he lived in the area. I don't know...it's such a sticky area. I feel like if you can engage/help people, it's best to do so, but what that looks like probably varies from situation to situation.

[Vlad!]

My inclination is to say that getting mugged or assaulted by a homeless person is sort of like getting in a plane wreck (in that it's statistically highly improbable and made highly visible by the news coverage in the off-chance that it does happen), but I'm certain that depends on the area, so a check of your city's violent crime statistics may be in order (in Blacksburg, recent heinous crimes notwithstanding, statistically speaking you're more likely to get injured in a traffic accident on the way to McDonalds than to get mugged taking someone there).

If anything, though, this thread has shown me that I need to practice what I preach. Though I give time and money to organizations, I almost never help out random people, and my "I don't see people that need help" is kind of a lame excuse because I suspect I could find them if I tried. I definitely want to get better about this.

[bethany]

It's probably not all that likely, but it's definitely not unheard of here. I think vagrants attacking one another is more common than them mugging people (esp. not in broad daylight), but it is a kind of sketchy area where I live, so it's probably better to be on the safe side, I think. In the warmer months, there are reported crime/violence issues at least once a week, I'd say (and those are just the ones sensational enough to make the news). And, like I said, there are people who hang around near our neighborhood who are quite aggressive about panhandling - following me home and persistently ringing the doorbell is not ok with me.

[murlough23]

Vlad!, you're probably right in that my chances of getting mugged and/or assaulted are pretty low. My chances of dying in a plane crash are also infinitesimally low. Knowledge of the statistics somehow doesn't allay my irrational phobia whenever I'm aboard a plane or confronted by a stranger on the street.

I resonate with the fear of neediness or someone getting attached. A homeless dude can't really follow me home if I'm in a car, but he can keep hitting me up for cash at the same gas station, figuring that if I caved once, I'll do it again. This isn't about me so much as the fact that it doesn't really help him in the long run to figure out who he can keep panhandling. Again, I'm more interested in a permanent solution. Which is why I gravitate toward the idea of somehow making them aware of a local shelter that can serve their needs. After a while, if I keep giving them that same response, they're either going to take the advice, or stop confronting me at said gas station..

This all makes me wonder why, if such shelters exist, why people do not go to them. Are they full? Inadequate to meet the needs of those who go there? Are some of these places disreputable? Is there a stigma that, "I may be temporarily out of a job and a home, but I don't have it that bad"? Is it a pride thing? (One would think that if you're out on the street begging for money, you've probably gotten over what little pride you had left.) Is it just a simple matter of being so stressed about how you're gonna eat today that you simply can't think long-term?

I don't want to send someone to a place that I think can help them, only for them to be sent away because there is no room or nothing there that can help them.

[Vlad!]

I agree with suggesting a local shelter or rescue ministry, but having volunteered at such places myself, I know that the staff there generally have their hands full just keeping the place running. At a women's shelter in Raleigh, for example, I remember seeing a lot of women come in, eat by themselves in silence, and then head out. I tried to at least talk to most of them, but I think these people would really benefit from someone just sitting down and saying "hey, people may think badly of you, you may think badly of you, but that's not who you are." I think the benefit of taking such a person to a meal isn't just the sustenance (though that's certainly a benefit) so much as to share the living water that they don't even know to ask for.

Speaking of which, spending a couple hours on a weekend volunteering at a homeless shelter might be a great first step. I doubt you'd be in any particular danger in that environment (and perhaps more importantly you'd feel a lot safer) and you don't have to step too far out of your comfort zone. If you feel like it then after you're done serving food you can sit down and talk with some of the later arrivals, or if you don't feel comfortable with that you can help clean up (or just bail).

[Vlad!]

We had a sermon yesterday that covered the topic of the poor, and I thought it was both interesting and convicting.

The pastor pointed out that in the story of the good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite aren't really villains or bad people. If there's one thing they're guilty of, it's making things too complicated. "If I touch that man and he turns out to be dead, I'll be unclean for a week and I can't fulfill my priestly duties." Truth be told, the Samaritan didn't really do a whole lot. He went out of his way a bit and paid some money. He gave, what, two pieces of silver and maybe an hour extra of his time? If I gave an hour a week or a month and maybe the modern equivalent of a day's wages or two, I wouldn't be out a whole lot.

Also, the other point is that he was just going about his business. I think there is certainly call to make special effort to help the poor. I try to donate time at least once every couple of months for this. But the real point of the story is to be on the lookout for ways you can help people you encounter in your everyday life.

Finally, God could take care of the poor himself if he wanted. There are lots of things that he says "leave that to me". We don't (and can't) actually save people, we can just plant seeds. We can't answer prayer, we can just tell others about the one who can. We couldn't atone for our own sin, so he took it upon himself. But the poor is one thing that God has put back on us. Probably the biggest reason for this is because helping the poor helps me to see myself in them. I'm not very poor in spirit or in wealth, but when I've been around people who are, I feel humbled. This is really one thing we can't delegate to an organization by giving money to a rescue shelter or a church. If you give money it can be used for good, no doubt about that, but you personally won't reap the benefits of getting down into others' lives and seeing through their eyes.

Anyway, food for thought.

[dgp11776]

Nice post, Vlad.