CARE FOR THE POOR

Monday – December 20, 2021

Posted

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores.” – Luke 16:19-20

 

In his book “Practical Justice: Living Off-Center in a Self-Centered World”, Kevin Blue tells the story of kindness shown by Reid, Dave, and John toward Robert:

“While in college these young men developed a friendship with Robert, who was struggling on the streets. One night they invited him to join them for dinner and treated him to a meal at the school cafeteria. Then they invited him to stay over in their room that night after their Bible study. He agreed.

Before long, word had gotten around the dorm that there was a homeless man on the floor. The resident assistant heard and called security, and three of the largest security guards we had ever seen showed up in the hall. They were so big that two of them could not walk side by side as they went down the hall. They proceeded, along with the RA, to ask the guys about the incident. The conversation went something like this: “Is there a homeless man in the dorm here? We heard that there was. Our friend Robert is here. Is there a problem? We are allowed to have friends in the dorm, aren’t we?”

Silence, awkwardness, and an eventual departure ensued. Dave, Reid, and John washed Robert’s clothes and offered him the chance to take a shower. By the end of Robert’s stay, they knew what it was to be hated by the world. But they also had a witness to what the kingdom was about like few others, and people either hated or loved them for it, depending on their perspective.”

 

No matter where you live, you can minister to the poor. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to make you sensitive to those in need and minister to them.

 

“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them.” – George Bernard Shaw

 

God’s Word: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” – 1 John 3:17