Today as I pulled up to Wal-Mart, I noticed an older woman, and a near adult man; who I assumed was the woman's son. They held a sign that read: "Homeless, Please Help".
I passed them as I entered into the parking lot and something within me said..."They need your help." So, I stopped in the parking lot, pulled out my wallet, and started to to pull out the three dollar bills I had sitting beside the $20 bills that were also in there. It was as if God told me; "You've got three of those twenty dollar bills, do you really need all three? Or could they use them more"?
I them pulled back around up next to where they were standing, I held out the $20 bill, the woman stood there in amazement at the money I was offering her. She thanked me profusely, almost in tears. I told her to have a great day, and I pulled off.
I felt very accomplished, very good about myself because I had done what Jesus calls us all to do. He says we are to help each other, to love each other unconditionally, and to show His mercy and love to others.
As I pull into a parking space I posted on Facebook;
" There is a homeless family in Front of Wal-Mart on Avalon Ave, if you are nearby please drop them some groceries or money please!!"
I did this because I thought maybe there are others out there who would want to give to people in need. However, I did not have the happy ending to this story that I wanted....
I'm shopping in Wal-Mart for the items I came for and my husband calls me on the phone.
"Someone just posted on your wall that these people are not poor. They are simply professional beggars. They do not work, but make the same amount of money that the rest of us to by sitting out by the road. If you ask them if they are really homeless they will tell you the truth if you ask them. Most people in town know this already by now. "
At first, my heart was broken. I felt for sure by the look of these people they needed help. Why did my heart tell me to give them money if they are no worse off than I am?
Then, the anger set in. I was bound and determined to march right back out there and demand my money back and tell them that everyone in town knows the frauds they are, so they might as well go home and stop taking us giving people for fools!
But, God placed His hand on my heart, almost as if physically, and whispered... "You did what I asked you to do. You cannot help what they did, but you will be greatly rewarded for loving people as you do, and following my commandments to serve me by serving other people."
As I placed my groceries on the conveyer belt to check out, it dawned on me that after giving them that $20 I may no longer have enough money for the items I came for. As the cashier rang up the items butterflies began to bubble up in my stomach. Will I have enough? Am I going to be one of "those people" who has to put items back because they were living outside their means while everyone else stares and judges them?
$42.34 she said. You'll never believe the next thing that happened.... I pulled out the money from my wallet, the EXACT amount of money I had left was FORTY TWO DOLLARS AND THIRTY FOUR CENTS.
I probably looked as if I had seen a ghost. As I handed the cashier the last $42.34 that I had for the week, my heart smiled. I prayed inside.... Thank you Lord for taking care of me, as I took care of others.
I tell you this story to say this....
God tells us to take care of each other no matter what the circumstances may be. That homeless guy on the street corner may or may not really need your money, but what if he does? GIVE ANYWAY!!
God rewards us for the good deeds we selflessly do, and takes care of our needs when we take care of others.
So, next time you see someone in need....GIVE ANYWAY.
Don't feel comfortable giving them money? Then drop them a bag of food from the grocery store, or from a fast food restaurant nearby.
Then, at least, you know you gave them something they will for sure use to nourish their body, and you will bless them, and maybe, just maybe they will FEEL that blessing in Jesus' name.
God Bless.... and Get Giving!!! :)
THE CREED BOOK OR GOD'S BOOK?
ReplyDeleteThe majority of denominations use their creed books as the authority in the church for faith and practice. If the final authority is the creed book(catechism), then what purpose would the Bible serve. The Bible is relegated to a secondary reference book.
If the creed book is the authority. Why read the Bible? Why even own a Bible? There are some who say, we do not have a creed book, we a have statement of faith. Statement of faith is just a euphemistic way of saying creed book.
If denominations claim to use the Bible as their rule for faith and practice, then there would is no need for a man-made creed book.
Acts 17:10-11 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 There were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
The Berean's did not search the man-made creed books written by the scribes and elders, to substantiate the truth. The searched the Scriptures.
Acts 17:2-3 Then Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."
Paul did not use man-made creed books to teach about Jesus Christ. He reasoned from the Scriptures.
The Pharisees and scribes liked to teach from the man-made creed books of the elders. (Mark 7:1-13....3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders....... 13 "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.")
The Pharisees used man-made creed books as their final authority.
If denominations are using man-made creed books as there final authority for faith and practice, are they not making the word of God of no effect through their tradition?
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