Shocked from My Comfort Zone…
Last Friday morning, I had an experience that shocked me out of my comfort zone a bit.
I had a lunch meeting planned with a couple colleagues, and had over-estimated the amount of time it would take me to make the trip through Kansas City to one of my favorite out of the way BBQ joints. Arriving nearly a half-hour early, I found myself with time to kill. Sitting in my truck, checking e-mail on my iPhone, I was blissfully unaware of everything going on around me.
The sudden rapping on the driver’s window just to the left of my head shook me back to reality. Heart racing from the sudden shot of adrenaline, I jerked my head in that direction and found myself staring straight into the weathered face of a beggar.
I rolled my window down slightly, letting in a biting draft of cold air.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry to bother you sir,” the man stated with eyes cast toward the ground, “but my wife and I have not eaten in 31 hours, and I was hoping you could help.”
He began to reach into his coat, and another shot of adrenaline hit my system. My mind was racing. “What was he reaching for?” “How could I get out of here fast?” “Why in the world did I ever decide to stop the car?” “If only I had checked Google for directions to get a better time estimate!” “Why on earth is there never anyone else around when you need them?”
He pulled out a knife.
“I don’t have much, but I could sell this to you.”
As I sat there unresponsive, eyes surely glazed over, he continued, repeating his situation again, sharing more about the knife in an effort to convince me to buy it or help him somehow, and asking questions I couldn’t begin to answer from the stress pulsing through my body. There’s no telling what he was thinking about me.
I finally snapped to my senses.
“31 hours, you say? Let’s go inside, and I’ll buy you some lunch.”
Now, you could give me props for doing the right thing, but they’re not at all deserved. You see, like the Pharisees that prayed grand prayers for the benefit of being seen, or that gave vast sums of money (in large quantities of the smallest denomination)… the action itself was all well and good, but the heart impure. I didn’t look at this guy with the love of Christ. I’m not even sure I ever even saw him as a person. I just knew what the right response was and did it begrudgingly.
In that moment, I think I experienced in myself the root problem we Christians have with truly making a difference in the lives of the poor and destitute… most of us don’t even want to see them, let alone interact with them or treat them like a person.
Now I’m not sure where to go with this, but thought I’d share my experience. Like I said, it shocked me out of my comfort zone, and made me realize something about myself that frustrates the heck out of me. That realization?
Matthew 25:40
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
You see, I had a chance to serve Jesus and was ticked off about it. And that attitude just ain’t right, regardless of whether my actions were.
Perhaps there are others in the same boat?
This situation could have gone down much differently. We could just as easily be mourning your passing today instead of celebrating a ministry opportunity. Staying aware of your surroundings is important for the civilian as well as Law Enforcement.
So while He has created good deeds in advance for us to do, we should also have a plan B.
You’re right, John. It could have. And I would never advocate lack of caution.
However, perhaps it’s a bit telling that we generally assume the worst of the poor and destitute? Again, how often do we let ourselves see these folks as people, in need not only of food, shelter, and clothing, but the love of God? Why is it that we’ll so freely talk to the businessman in line behind us at the airport or in the taxi line, but we’ll cross the street to avoid passing by a beggar?
Again, I’m guilty as charged in all of the above, but I’ve been forced to think a bit as a result of this experience.
I had a similar encounter at a gas station in St. Louis, including the offer to buy a knife. I too was jarred out of my “shell of protection”. I also beat myself up for the next week for not having a gospel reply to the situation. Yes, I gave the guy ten bucks for gas, but there was no clear context for that response. To be honest, I think I had an attitude that I was paying a disciple tax.
All too often I see the same attitude in myself when ministering to fellow church members. Let’s face it; we all have some brothers and sisters who have the potential to suck the life out of us with their needs, be it financial, or in most cases, emotional and spiritual.
The only answer I see is to continually start over with my Father. Unfortunately the work of transformation (Rom 12:1-2) isn’t a one time wonder.
John,
You present a difficult situation where often it seems that whatever we do, it’s wrong. We are to love the poor and when we have a legitimate opportunity – help them. One of the great joys in a believer’s life is to know that you had a part in fulfilling a real need in someone less fortunate.
The problems involve our safety, our family’s safety, and whether the need is real. Criminals, ex-cons, alcoholics, drug addicts, and the lazy are often notoriously good at lying. Are we helping or hurting by giving them money? Some make good money just asking for handouts. Most are affected by drugs or mental problems or both. Another reason I’m so opposed to beverage alcohol. You did one of the best things by offering food instead of money; money that is then so often used for drugs.
One thing we can do is support Rescue Missions that sometimes do outstanding work. Some are especially called to this type ministry; others aren’t. I suppose we would all do well to do at least a little of this type work.
Our churches help by simply preaching the Word, keeping families intact, warning youth about the dangers of drugs, modeling integrity and the work ethic, money management, etc. If a person gives tithes and offering to their church, that fulfills many needs in many ways. But we could all do a better job of loving and helping those in need.
David R. Brumbelow
John, Thanks for buying Jesus lunch!
Brother John,
There is no doubt a sense of despair that we all partake in once we have briefly been awakened to the realities of life outside of our protected environments. The writer of Ecclesiastes gives us an effective palliative and better understanding……
Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 “So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done? (13) And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. (14) The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. (15) Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.” (16) For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! (17) So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. (18) Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. (19) And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. (20) Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. (21) When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. (22) For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? (23) Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. (24) There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. (25) For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? (26) For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.”
It is probably not wise to look so defeatist at these encounters. Without God’s sovereignty we would not have trust in His Word. God has control of all things whether it reveals good labor, enjoyment, wisdom, knowledge, joy, vanity or striving. As we obey we should take comfort with God’s provision in these encounters.
Blessings,
Chris
John,
I’m betting you’re perfectly willing to have your heart changed.
Having said that, what Jesus is really after is our obedience. He told us to feed His sheep, and you did that, that day.
He’ll change your heart, moment by moment, when He wants to. Until then, don’t let the devil tell you something bad happened between you and the beggar. I don’t think anything did.
Come to think of it, maybe that incident was one step in changing your heart. And you can’t do it yourself, else David wouldn’t have asked God to create a new one in him.
Mike,
Perhaps that tactic is standard fare, learned at the school of hard knocks? :)
In all seriousness, it’s a shame that meeting the needs of others is so often something we fail to take joy in doing. Finding that joy surely starts with having our hearts changed by God.
David,
It is indeed rather sad that helping others can so often be so complicated. We clearly live in a fallen world.
Chris, Bob…
Both of you have hit on an important point… God’s sovereignty in this. While I’m not so sure I intended to convey a defeatist outlook over my encounter, or that the exchange was a negative one, it WAS an event which shed a bit of light on my heart. Sometimes we all need to experience such things so that our hearts can grow more into the shape God intends.
I guess as I was reflecting back on some of Rob’s recent posts regarding ministering to the poor and destitute, I couldn’t help but think about this event. Maybe I’m off-base, but I DO believe that the majority of believers struggle with truly seeing the poor and destitute as people… fallen and sinful, perhaps… but people nonetheless. People God has commanded us to love and care about.
Brother John,
I think your right,…our flesh will always be prejudice to some extent, generally exposing our selfishness at whatever level it is operating. The Apostle Paul gave us a potent reminder….especially to those in the midst of the church when he said…..
Rom 15:1-2 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. (2) Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”
I think our tendency is to please ourselves whether with other believers as Paul is warning us here….or demonstrating the same principle with those that we run into in our daily wanderings.
Thankfully, because of being justified in Christ, we are able to “not” only please ourselves…but because we are aliens and ambassadors from another kingdom we have been given a new life to shine forth as if God was making an appeal through us.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
What an amazing reality that we can beg even those that beg to be reconciled to God…. without prejudice!
Blessings,
Chris
Thanks for helping the poor, which Jesus said we will have with us forever. but where was his family/
yOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
This is a hard issue for me. I have dealt with a lot of transients and people in need, and have found so many to be con artists. Because of that, I think I have grown hard-hearted and unfeeling about them.
I guess perhaps that I am the kind of person who needs a reminder like this.
If a poor person asks for money for food, we give it to them, and they use it for drugs… will Jesus be angry with us?
If a poor person asks for money for food, and we try to supply them with food… but end up dead in a dumpster… will Jesus be angry with us?
If a poor person asks for money for food, and we ignore their needs… will Jesus be angry with us?
John S.,
I’m glad you bought the man and his wife dinner :).
God Speed,
Lew
Lew A; I never give money. If he’s hungry I buy him food, if he needs gas I buy him that,if he needs money for medicine, I buy him that.
We are to be good stewars of what the Lord has entrusted us with.
Everything We have is The Lord’s. We are not to support a person’s drug, drinking nor smoking habits. We must be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
Dr. Paul W. Foltz
It’s really easy to objectify the homeless, just like we objectify people of different races and cultures. We ignore them, marginalize and forget about them.
I think what Jesus calls us to do — what he did and what you did — was to spend time with people in tough situations and realize they are not any different than we are. We are all poor by some device of measurement. I’m poor because some days I wake up and spend my day wandering from task to task that have no eternal significance. Some people are poor because addictions have throttled their lives.
We’re all poor.
Jesus’ call is to see all people as His people and to reach out to them with love and understanding.
That’s what you did. That’s what He did. That’s what we are all called to do.
Question?
Is it possible that we are misinterpreting this passage?
I think we focus too much on the “duty” to help the poor without focusing on the phrase, “these brothers of mine.” Perhaps one could argue that Jesus is referring to (as context may suggest) the way believers are treated during times of persecution. True believers will come to the aid of one another. Another possibility is to suggest that Jesus is referring to the Jews being persecuted during the tribulation. Again, the emphasis would be on the “sheep” caring for the persecuted. (As the “goats” would ignore the plight of these “brothers” in need.)
Now, I’m not saying that I’m sold on either interpretation. Nor am I suggesting that we believers should not desire to come to the aid of the poor in a general sense. However, I am open to the possibility that too much emphasis is placed on this text and we use it to beat ourselves up for not helping the “less fortunate” among us.
I would argue a better passage to use would be the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Interestingly, the money is given to the innkeeper and not directly to the person in need (as mentioned by Dr. Foltz above).
Any thoughts?
And please do not misinterpret my question as having no compassion on the poor as that would be an erroneous assumption. I’m also of the persuasion that the work of ministry involves a small amount of risk. Indeed, we open ourselves up to danger (and the possibility of being taken advantage of) when showing compassion and legitimizing the sharing of the life changing message of the Gospel!
Thanks,
Clay
Far be it that I would wrest Matt 25:31-46 from our new president as the biblical basis for his social policy, but I believe, like Clay, that the referent to “the least of these My brethren” needs to be established to see how this passage is to be applied. D. A. Carson points out that there is no biblical parallel for identifying “the least of Jesus’ brothers with the poor and needy without distinction.” Although this is a common interpretation, it has no biblical basis.
Rather, Carson points out that the best interpretation by far is that Jesus’ “brothers” are His disciples (Matt 12:48-49; 28:10; 23:8). Jesus’ disciples are charged with spreading the gospel, the very words of life, to the entire world. The fate of all people and nations will be determined by how they respond to Jesus’ followers and their message. In going out the spread the gospel, Jesus’ followers can hunger, thirst, illness, and imprisonment. Good deeds done to those followers, even “the very least of them,” demonstrate where people stand in relation to the kingdom and to Jesus Himself. Jesus so identifies Himself with His obedient servants, that compassion shown towards these servants is compassion shown towards Himself (Matt 10:40-42; Mark 13:13; John 15:5, 18, 20; 17:10, 23, 26; Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14; 1 Cor 12:27; Heb 2:17).
Instead, Clay is probably right that the parable of the good Samaritan is a better proof text for this scenario. We are, after all, commanded that “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (this includes the poor and needy we encounter without distinction). But even Paul makes a distinction — “but especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10). I believe these are the “brethren” Jesus is talking about.
This might apply:
“Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to be merciful…’” (Matthew 9:13).
I have thought to contribute here: I was in San Francisco a while back and was approached by a pan handler. I gave him some spare change, and the people with me expressed the idea that he might not have really needed the money, but was a “professional” at this. We talked about whether to give the poor cash or only buy food or gas, or whatever they say they need. Now, if you have time to delve into this person’s life and find out, for instance, if you will be feeding a drug problem, then that is the best thing. But in the absence of knowledge, I stand by what I did: give what is asked. Here is the way I see it: we are instructed in the scripture to “give to those who ask” of us. What they do with the money is their responsibility, not ours. I find we, including me, too often use the “they’ll just misuse it” as an excuse to not do anything. If we lovingly give, even if they do misuse it, they will likely have seen love and concern from us rather than excuses and disdain. Unless you know better, think the best of people. If a man says he needs money, don’t assume he is lying. Giving my money is an act of worship, so whether I help someone or am conned, it was not my money anyway. God and the person receiving it are responsible after it leaves my hand, not me. this leaves me with a much smaller list of excuses when it comes to the least of these. God bless,
Tim Cook
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