Can you spare any change?

When was the last time you walked by a homeless person on the street? When was the last time you walked by a homeless person on the street and lied about how you didn’t have any cash on you? When was the last time you justified ignoring this person’s need because they would just, “go buy drugs or alcohol” with your 50 cents? Did you judge them in your mind?

I write with no intention of preaching, only with intention of admitting that I have done all those things… in the last 24 hours. I do all those things all the time. How dare I?

Is the answer throwing a dollar at someone and saying, “God Bless?” Maybe. Is the answer sitting down with every person who panhandles your spare change and sharing the truth and freeing life that Jesus Christ offers? Maybe. Is the answer prayer? Maybe. Is the answer simply caring enough not to ignore other human beings, other people made in the image of God, other people who cannot even feel their fingertips because of frostbite, other people who have not seen their children since the 90’s, other people who cannot possibly escape from the world of cocaine, alcohol, prostitution and cardboard boxes? I don’t know.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other’” (Zechariah 7:9-10, NIV).

Is it possible to feed everyone you pass and put a roof over all these heads? No. And that isn’t the answer anyway. I do not know a whole lot, but I do know that the red letters in my Bible are true…

“’Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

"‘Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:34-39, NIV).

Jesus doesn’t get much more explicit than this. You either take care of Him or you ignore Him. I have been ignoring for too long.

I am not letting anyone off with the easy, “Do what your heart tells you?” It isn’t that easy, folks. Jesus (Need I remind you, The Son of God) has called us out here. And I know it starts with asking God for a genuine heart of compassion for those in need. And from there, hopefully He will free me from my judgmental ignoring just as He is powerful enough to heal any person I pass on the street from any number of addictions or behaviors.

How dare I deny God the chance to speak to someone in need through me? All I have belongs to Him anyway, right? I should trust Him with it.

Life is too short to be safe all the time. Don’t be stupid either, but somewhere in between is the opportunity to share your life with people on the street and more importantly let them share their lives with you. Listen and let God speak to you through them and be amazed.

Please forgive me Lord for my ignorance and selfishness and self-righteousness and greed. I am sorry.