the least for the least


If you've done it to the least of these...
Then you've done it unto me.

A couple of years ago I gave some money to the harmless and helpful cause of sending some underprivilaged kids to an old-timers vs police force hockey game. I went along too, and a good time was had by all. But, you know, now every year, two or three times a year, I'm hit up for supporting worthy causes of every shape and kind imagineable. It's not that I don't like helping out... the issue I have is that now I'm expected to give to any and every cause that comes a-knockin'. I simply can't do that.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one out there who's got a family to feed, a house and vehicle to pay for. I don't think that it's wrong to choose my battles and to elect not to give... even if the need is very real and much more urgent than kids missing a really cool sporting event.

My brother-in-law and his wife are in Ethiopia working with the Sudanese at a UN refugee camp. We really want to give them some finacial support, but we just can't do it, and it's painful at times. Our church fellowship can't even afford to pay anyone a salary. When there's cash, we give it. When there isn't, we STILL pour out our lives as we have the opportunity.

We're investing in things eternal, but they're the things within our reach... they're the people around us. If I was to come into enough money to send aid, I'd sure do it... but I'd much rather go and be the one handing out the aid and touching the lives of those poor. But I have my own poor, the one's that Jesus gave to me; the one's He's put in my path to reach out to and to touch with kindness and acceptance. He said that the poor would always be with us. I think that it's these one's who are with us and near us who we are the most obligated not to neglect. I can't meet half of the needs around me... and until that truth breaks my heart wide open, until I can own my own poverty, I'm of no real help to anyone. I'm not the source, God is. I don't get folks off of drugs or healed of aids or hep. C, but God can do that and more. My part is to reach out and touch people in Jesus name. To pray for them... to share what I have with them.

A very wise woman once said that you don't give the extra you have to someone in need, but rather you give out of your own possessions. She told the helpers at a free store, "Don't go into the back and find shoes for that person... go give that person YOUR shoes. Then you go get a pair for yourself."

Are we willing to give like that? Are we willing to give like Christ?

"...I'll show you my faith by what I do."

Posted: Fri - November 7, 2003 at 02:20 AM      

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