Today I was driving through Marietta Square in my 2013 Dodge Avenger that my dad pays for, eating Taco Bell, on my way to sit at a coffee shop to fill out applications for a college education that my father will also more than likely pay for. I say all this to prove that I am beyond blessed. I don't really have much to complain about when it comes to money. But anyways. I was at a red light and I looked to my left and saw a homeless man sitting on a bench. It was cold and raining. Then I looked at the bag of Taco Bell in my passenger seat, the iPhone 6 that was plugged in to my radio, and all the other things that I've spent "spare" money on recently. In that moment, the Lord BROKE me. I just started crying in my car because I am so selfish.
I want to warn you. This post may very well offend the vast majority of you readers. Especially if you are over the age of twenty-five and even more especially if you are southern.
For my entire life, whenever I would see homeless or "needy" people on the side of the road, or anywhere really, RARELY did my family stop to help them or give them money. The excuse "I don't know what they'll spend the money on" was the most common excuse and as my family became more "charismatic" in the Christian realm, "I didn't feel the Holy Spirit leading me to" became even more popular. And for the longest time, both of those reasonings seemed reasonable to me. Like I don't want to give my money to someone so they can get a meal but they just go spend that on alcohol and I definitely didn't want to do something that was not lead by the Holy Spirit. But recently the Lord has been showing me His heart (through SCRIPTURE and just through the Holy Spirit) for the poor and needy.
If you grew up in the south like I did, you've probably heard "God helps those who help themselves." I know I had that phrase hammered into my head for years. I thought it was completely Biblical. THINK AGAIN HANNAH
I want to warn you. This post may very well offend the vast majority of you readers. Especially if you are over the age of twenty-five and even more especially if you are southern.
For my entire life, whenever I would see homeless or "needy" people on the side of the road, or anywhere really, RARELY did my family stop to help them or give them money. The excuse "I don't know what they'll spend the money on" was the most common excuse and as my family became more "charismatic" in the Christian realm, "I didn't feel the Holy Spirit leading me to" became even more popular. And for the longest time, both of those reasonings seemed reasonable to me. Like I don't want to give my money to someone so they can get a meal but they just go spend that on alcohol and I definitely didn't want to do something that was not lead by the Holy Spirit. But recently the Lord has been showing me His heart (through SCRIPTURE and just through the Holy Spirit) for the poor and needy.
If you grew up in the south like I did, you've probably heard "God helps those who help themselves." I know I had that phrase hammered into my head for years. I thought it was completely Biblical. THINK AGAIN HANNAH
Also, that phrase is completely contradictory to the Gospel. Like if God only helped those who helped themselves, we'd all be doomed to an eternity of separation from God. But I digress. God's heart is for those who can't help themselves!!! Jesus said in Mark 2:17 "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Obviously that is about salvation but also it can go along with needs in general. You don't help people who don't need help. That's almost counterproductive???? Like why help people who don't need help when there are so many that do need our help?!?!
Something I was always told growing up was that we should only help the poor and homeless people who were trying to get out of that hole that they were in. I always thought it was incredibly selfish to think that way. Like it's easy to act like we're better than people when we have money but imagine what it must be like to be in their shoes! Also... A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE A DEGREE, "FUTURE," ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, OR MOTIVATION TO BE VALUED AS A PERSON.
Okay but on to the phrase that many Christians use as an excuse "I didn't feel the Holy Spirit leading me to help." I totally agreed with this statement up until about six months ago. Let's take a look at Matthew 25:35-40.
"'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
Now I don't think it's by any means far fetched to see that in Scripture, we are clearly called to help the poor and needy in every way that they could need help. Something that hit me a few months ago was the knowledge that I don't need to "feel the Holy Spirit lead" me to help the poor when it is clearly stated in Scripture. We've already been called. I think it's easy for believers to use the whole "I didn't feel the leading of the Holy Spirit" excuse because we're placing the blame on the Holy Spirit for us not doing what we've been called to do. Own up to your laziness, people.
God has called us to live a life of loving and giving unapologetically. There is no discrimination in the body of Christ. So surprise! You (I) have no excuse to not love and give to the poor and needy.
Peace out cub scouts *peace sign emoji*
