Yesterday I walked past a homeless woman sitting by the post office. I walked by her twice–once going in and another time coming out. I walked to my car. I could not get in. I walked back and asked the woman what her name was. It was Vicki. I asked her if she could walk. She said she could. So I gave her one of my business cards and told her to go to Downey Ave. and to Mambo Grill and the owner would give her something to eat. I know the owner and he knows me and he knows I will pay him for this meal. Actually, the owner and our church are partners. We pay him half of what the menu value is and he absorbs the other half. This does not solve all of Vicki’s problems, but it does respond to one of her immediate needs–food. Our church is in the process of trying to help a homelss family. Not just feeding them for a day, but helping them get out of the cycle of poverty they are in. This is hard discerning work because we want to be good stewards of the resources we have been given while we help.
Today he proverbs hit me hard. I don’t ever remember reading this one before. 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full!! Wow! When we are kind to the poor we are “lending to the Lord.” So we are literally giving to the Lord when we help these people! And, the Lord really knows how to maximize profits! So when I lend to the Lord, the return is incredible! Oh, that God would give us the courage and compassion to lend to him more often. Next time you see a homeless person, lend to the Lord!