Refusing Help
I read 1 John 3:17 this morning, and it really struck me:
In recent months I have been haunted by the number of homeless persons I pass on my way to and from work. More to the point, I have been haunted by the number of times I've driven by these persons without doing anything. (Jesus' words in Matthew 25:31-46 suggest that such neglect will land me in hell.)
My excuse is simple: I don't know what to do. Giving a few dollars or a sandwich might be a nice gesture, but it would also be nothing more than a Band-Aid. Such a gift would give that person a few hours of relief but would have little effect on that person's overall situation.
Moreover, many of these persons carry signs that suggest that they aren't looking for gifts. They want to earn food or money, because working for a living gives them a sense of dignity where dignity is hard to come by. And, honestly, I could use some help doing yardwork or simple home improvement projects. The question is, If I hire a homeless person for the day, what happens when the day is done? I could feed him a meal, but then what? Do I just drop him off where I found him with a few extra dollars in his pocket?
But being perfectly honest, even if I had answers to these questions, I'm still not sure I'd have the courage to act.
How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
In recent months I have been haunted by the number of homeless persons I pass on my way to and from work. More to the point, I have been haunted by the number of times I've driven by these persons without doing anything. (Jesus' words in Matthew 25:31-46 suggest that such neglect will land me in hell.)
My excuse is simple: I don't know what to do. Giving a few dollars or a sandwich might be a nice gesture, but it would also be nothing more than a Band-Aid. Such a gift would give that person a few hours of relief but would have little effect on that person's overall situation.
Moreover, many of these persons carry signs that suggest that they aren't looking for gifts. They want to earn food or money, because working for a living gives them a sense of dignity where dignity is hard to come by. And, honestly, I could use some help doing yardwork or simple home improvement projects. The question is, If I hire a homeless person for the day, what happens when the day is done? I could feed him a meal, but then what? Do I just drop him off where I found him with a few extra dollars in his pocket?
But being perfectly honest, even if I had answers to these questions, I'm still not sure I'd have the courage to act.
posted by Tinley | 5:47 AM
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