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To Give or Not If there is a poor man . . . in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted. Deuteronomy 15:7 (NIV) IN the median of a busy intersection stands a man in shabby clothes and run-down boots. His cardboard sign reads, "Unemployed veteran. Hungry -- will work. God bless." Every Saturday as I run errands and every Sunday on my way to church, I go through this intersection. On nearly every trip I see someone begging. The director of a mission in New York City once told me that giving cash to the homeless only enables them to stay on the street. If I give this man money, will he use it to buy bananas or beer, a coat or cocaine? I give money to shelters and programs that help drug addicts and alcoholics reenter society. So why do I still feel hardhearted, averting my eyes as I pass this urban scarecrow? In the scripture above I cannot find any test the poor have to pass before I am commanded to "give generously." There is no requirement that they be honest, hardworking, worthy, or even thankful. Could it be that God's admonition to give is sometimes more about my maintaining a compassionate heart than about what the recipient will do with the money? Mary Beecher (Maryland, U.S.A.)
Prayer:
Dear God, help us be good stewards of all you have provided. Give us discernment to know how and when to give, and keep our hearts open to our brothers and sisters. Amen. Thought For The Day: Giving is about compassion, not about judgment. . . . God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 For additional study on tithing see: TEN REASONS WHY I TITHE Special Thanks to Upper Room for this Devotion this month, |
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Words for Thought |
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God Bless!
Gerald Klingelhoefer
One God, One Faith, One Baptism Ephesians 4:5
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Special thanks for this month: |
Devotions Upper Room |
Humor Christian Jokes |
Quotes For Thought Christian Quotes.org |
Poem Poets Passion |