Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Help Others Where You Are

“For 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.” -- Matthew 25:35

A number of years ago a coworker walked into the office declaring that she’d be unpopular that day. She explained that she’d left a homeless man sitting in the back of her truck while he ate breakfast. She figured no one would appreciate passing a homeless person as they walked from their vehicles to the office. She was right.

She’d hadn’t planned to do it. She was buying herself breakfast from a food cart when she noticed him. He was hungry. What was she to do? She bought him breakfast.

Of course, many were quick to criticize her precedent. He should get out and get a job, is always a popular complaint. It’s his own fault, others added. Those more compassionate noted that there were food banks and soup kitchens for people like that. Some wondered how she could possibly help by buying him one meal. What would he do for lunch or dinner? Where would he sleep that night? And what about his long-term prospects for a job and housing?

She just shook her head. She wasn’t trying to save the world or even this man. She saw a need and she could help so she did. It really was that simple.

I wonder how different our world would be if every person who checks that “Christian” box simply did what he or she could where he or she saw a need. We don’t. It’s always somebody else’s problem -- the pastor, local charities, the government. Anybody but us.

It’s not that we don’t do anything. We write a check. We volunteer when there’s a group need, like after a storm or during a “work day” organized by our church or local civic club. But we don’t really want to get dirty in the day-to-day work of helping others. We don’t want to give away our hard-earned money to people we don’t think deserve it. We don’t want to take time we’d rather spend on our own activities and give it to a needy stranger.

And yet we claim to be Christians. We say that Jesus lives inside of us. We tell ourselves and others that we want to live a good life, a Christian life, a life like Jesus. Without the sacrifices.

That last part stings doesn’t it? Because Jesus wouldn’t walk past someone who is hungry, telling Himself it was someone else’s problem. And Jesus wouldn’t ignore that elderly neighbor down the street who is just so lonely. And Jesus certainly wouldn’t look the other way when someone else’s child desperately needed extra help with homework.

We don’t need to save the world. We don’t need to make the large contribution, the big commitment, the huge effort. We just need to do what we can, where we are. One person at a time. One meal at a time. One smile. One kind word. One step toward doing what Jesus would

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Do What You Can, Where You Can

He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. -- Psalm 146:6b-9 (NLT)

A new report says that almost one in six Americans now live in poverty. The finger pointing will now commence. Who’s to blame? The Democrats or Republicans? President Obama? The previous president?

I wonder what it would take to for us to look in the mirror instead of casting blame. I wonder what would happen if we hit our knees in prayer instead of expecting the government to do something about poverty. I wonder what would happen if we looked in the mirror and asked ourselves what we could do rather than waiting for someone else step up and take action.

Many years ago a co-worker came in the office and announced that she expected to be very unpopular that day. The reason? She’s bought a homeless man breakfast. She let the tailgate down on her small truck and left the man sitting there while he ate his breakfast. In the company parking lot. For everyone to see as they walked toward the building to work.

She could have refused the man’s request for food. He wasn’t her problem. Besides, what difference did one meal make? It didn’t solve the issue of what, or whether, he would eat lunch or dinner. It didn’t solve the problem of where he would use the bathroom, shower, or sleep that night. It didn’t address the long-term issues of job, housing and transportation.

Some people wouldn’t have even acknowledged the man. They would have walked right on by, their noses in the air and their judgment clearly visible. They would have blamed him for his situation -- without even asking to hear his story. Maybe he did make bad decisions. Maybe he was the victim of job layoffs or illness. It wouldn’t have mattered. Their hard hearts would have insisted that he get a job and help himself. Let’s see: No place to shower and clean up. No address. No phone number. Yeah. The one person every employer can’t wait to hire.

This co-worker didn’t solve the problem of homelessness. She simply did what she could, where she was. One meal for one man.

What has God called you to do today? Can you buy someone a meal or take a bag of groceries to the local food bank? Have you encouraged someone going through a tough time? Have you given away excess clothing to the needy? Did you buy a tank of gas for someone struggling to make ends meet?

We all encounter people each day who need our help. Some of them are obvious, like the homeless man my co-worker fed. Others aren’t so noticeable but they are there. Open your eyes. Look around and see, really see, other people. Ask God to guide you. Then listen to what He says. All of us have opportunities and the responsibility to help others.

Jesus never turned someone away hungry. He didn’t judge those in hard circumstances because of past mistakes. He looked at people who were hurting and really saw them. If we are to be like Jesus, how can we do any less? How can you do

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Some Go Hungry

When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I, the LORD, am your God. -- Leviticus 23:22

Last night I shelled peas. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m one of those people who actually likes shelling peas. I view it as an excuse to sit down, put my feet up and watch mindless television. But not when I find out about the peas at 8:30 p.m.

I shelled them. I did. And, really, I didn’t complain. Well, maybe a deep sigh but nothing loud. I put aside my plans to workout, write and read. I just did what needed to be done. But I was aggravated and that caused the guilt.

There are so many people in the world who don’t have fresh peas to shell, cook and eat. They don’t have enough food period. So this surplus is something I should feel nothing but gratitude for. Most of the time I do.

The Bible tells us that God understood there would be people who don’t have enough food. He gave instructions to make sure those people would be provided for. He told the farmers to leave grain along the edges of the fields and to not go back and pick up the grain the harvesters dropped. That way the poor and the foreigners could have something to eat. It could be called sharing.

Do you remember the story of Ruth? When she and Naomi returned to Naomi’s home, Ruth worked the fields that belonged to Boaz. She went behind the harvesters collecting what they’d dropped so that she and her mother-in-law would have food to eat.

Many of us have an abundance of everything, including food. But there are so many people -- including some in this country -- who don’t have the basics. I’m not talking about people who won’t work or even those who can’t work. I’m talking about people who work hard each and every day and still don’t earn enough money to have a decent place to live, enough food to eat, and all those miscellaneous items that eat into any budget.

So, yes, I felt guilty that I didn’t want to shell peas at night. I’m blessed that I have enough food to eat. Maybe if we all tried a little harder, gave a little more, other people would have enough food to eat too.

He Meant Us

But he answered, "You give them something to eat."

Mark 6:37

It seems like everywhere we look these days somebody is asking us to give. Please donate a toy. Please donate canned goods. Please donate coats or blankets. Please give money. The causes all seem worthy. But where do we draw the line? Or do we?

In this section of Mark, Jesus preached to the masses. When the day grew late, His disciples suggested sending the people to nearby towns so they could find food. Jesus told the disciples to feed them. We all know the rest of the story. Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish, gave thanks, then fed five thousand men.

We always want someone else to do our part. We'll be glad to pray about it. Maybe we'll do a little something if our church is involved. But what good would two cans of soup do when the need is so great? What good is one blanket or one toy or a single $1 bill?

Jesus never said do it all ourselves. He said for us to do what He has called us to do. Every dollar adds up. Every blanket. Every toy. We are called to do our part.

People are hungry all over the world not because the world doesn't have enough food. But because the people who have plenty refuse to share with those who don't.

Changing that starts with one gift by one person. You. And me. Stop waiting for someone else to do your part. Give a little of God's abundance today.