A
reminder for today
"Have
I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy
with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have
cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. Whenever
I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they
not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?” (Job 31:16-20)
Christmas is all about giving and as I read Job’s way of
life towards other it makes me wonder. Do I help the poor? Am I stingy with my
food and do not share? Do I care for widows? Do I help the homeless?
It has almost become an epidemic in our country. Our way
of life has caused a number of issues regarding poverty. It is difficult to
distinguish when to give and when not to. Who is really in need and who is a
con artist?
It is currently like this: At almost every robot you will
find a person with a banner stating their need and asking for money. When you
park your car there is a car watcher that wants so look after your car and
obviously all the other ones also asking for money. Then there are those who
are selling stuff at every robot and if you do not buy something they ask for “small
change”. Then we have people who take their little children to the side of the
roads also asking for money and using the children to do it when our government
gives a pension for woman where the father is absent.
It is at times quite challenging because by giving each
day it could become quite a financial burden and what is more disturbing is
that the kindness of people is exploited by so called beggars. Some of those
that are begging at the robots are doing it when they have no need at all. They
would arrive early in their good clothes and then change into rags and beg at
the robots. It has caused confusion amongst people and I must say it also
causes anger in some cases, because not only are the normal tax payer heavily
burdened by taxes, he must also pay toll fees and now e-toll. And funny enough
now during the Christmas season people are abusing the kindness of other. I stopped
at a filling station the other day and after the attendant filled my car with
diesel he asked me for a “Christmas box”. I was caught off guard and was
basically speechless, because at that time I had given money to the guard in
the parking lot and at every robot there was a person in need and now even the
petrol attendant asked for money.
So what happens is that people’s hearts are cold and they
are reluctant to give and to top it our government wastes millions while people
are struggling to survive.
What do we do? When do we give and when do we not give? It is difficult especially with the continuous
increase in prices. I believe that God will give you wisdom in this matter. I always
think it is safer to give your money to the church, because they know who is
really needy and where to use your tithes. In many cases the beggar at the
robot is there purely out of laziness and by laziness I mean that I know of
many guys who have offered these beggars a job and they refused, because it is
easier to beg than to work.
So to conclude: It is only right to give for we reactive so
much, but follow God’s voice when you give and listen to His direction. God
loves us all equally and to help someone in need is the very heart of God and
He will be glorified by it. Jesus was very clear on this matter: "Do not judge others, and you will not
be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive
others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift
will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more,
running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the
amount you get back." (Luke 6:37-38)
Note that there are three things we must keep in mind: 1)
Do not judge 2) Forgive and 3) Give and you shall receive. So I conclude that
giving is receiving and by giving we display the very essence of our faith and
we confirm our trust in God. Finally this trust will grow your relationship
with God and you will receive much more than what you gave. So do not judge
when you give and be quick to forgive, for in this lies a great treasure and a
life of freedom.
Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus
Cheers
