Laments Paul in Romans. Yesterday, I had one of those situations, where I thought I was doing good, but I'm sure I didn't do what I could have done, and I'm not even sure I did any real good period.
I was walking back from my client in Washington DC, and it was pretty late. I homeless guy stopped me and asked for money because he was hungry (he said). I was only about a block from a McDonalds, so I told him I would buy him some food, but not give him money. He expanded his story to include two daughters who were also hungry. I don't know if that was true – I kind of doubt it – but I bought him 3 Big Macs to feed him and his daughters. For me, I was out less than 10 bucks. For him, he at least got a full stomach.
Here is where I'm not sure if I did any real good. After I handed him the food and was walking away, another homeless guy said something to the effect of "you should be plenty full now." This is why I don't think there were any daughters hungry or otherwise. He was just looking for sympathy. So the question: if you know someone is lying to you (or you strongly suspect it), should you still be charitable to them? I don't know what this guy's particular story really was, but I'm pretty sure he fed me a lot of lies. If I had called him on it, and it turned out he was lying to me, would that have "relieved" me of any obligation to help?
I'm not sure God puts that kind of restriction on our charity. He certainly doesn't do it to me. I am constantly lying, or misrepresenting anyway, my true story to God. The difference is he knows the real me, so I'm not fooling him at all. Yet, even at that, he is still good to me – way beyond what I deserve. If he is that way to me, shouldn't I be the same to others?
The good chance I missed was simple. After I gave him his food, he did say thank you, then added "you are a good man." I (thinking humbly) just kind of nodded and went my way. That was wrong. What I should have said, and what I will say in the future when someone says "You are a good man": "No, I serve a good God."
See, I was charitable – which is good in and of itself – but I don't think I glorified God. Certainly the man I fed knows nothing more of God than he did before our encounter. No seed was planted, no spiritual food was passed with the physical food. Father, forgive me for forgetting what I was supposed to be doing.
Since I provided no glory or witness to God, I have no qualms about sharing this story and "receiving my reward in full" – as Jesus put it in the Sermon on the Mount. I think I have already received my reward – expanded insight into just how far I have to go to be like Jesus.
2 comments:
I respect that you regularly put such thought into your actions, the intentions behind them, how they are received, and whether or not they actually help achieve your goals.
In this specific case, I also respect that you 1) fed him instead of giving him money 2) did not restrict your giving because he may have been dishonest with you and 3) have shared the story with all of us so that we might learn from it.
Regardless of whether or not you believe you "glorified God" or planted any type of spiritual seed, you did a good thing for another human being. You showed genuine concern for him and hopefully reinforced in him that now matter what your situation there are people in society that still care about you. Many homeless people I've known appreciate genuine conversation and emotions from strangers more than any material things they give (although they may initially state otherwise). They are so used to being ignored or treated poorly that connecting with someone who cares can make a real difference.
In any event, thanks for sharing this story... and thanks for helping a brother in need.
When you are giving to someone it is not your responsibility how they use the gift; it is theirs.
When I am confronted with the same situation I ask for what they need, rather than what they want. If they press for money instead of food, then they more than likely aren't hungry. I have had two reponses so far: I just want the money, or gratitude for the food. Of course, I try to get them to eat with me so I can talk with them, but that doesn't always work.
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