What do I have to offer?

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality”. Romans 12:13 NIV

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them”. Proverbs 19:17 NIV

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack, He said, ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come follow me”. Mark 10:21 NIV

These verses present a picture of giving, but interestingly in Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at the man “and loved him”. Then He told him to sell everything. He loved first. I ran into a situation today that has me thinking. Working on the road I tend to run into people looking for help. Sometimes a person needs gas for their car, that’s easy. I have seen people who need food, that is easy. I can buy a tank of gas or I can buy some groceries. I was approached today by someone who said they had been through a house fire. I asked if she needed gas, she said no. I asked if she needed food, she said no. She needed a place to sleep. She did have a car for that purpose. I explained that I did not carry cash so I could not figure out a way to help. She walked away.

I have heard people who have doubts about the real needs of people who are standing on the side of the road. I have had doubts about the real needs of people who are standing on the road. However, I think sometimes we convince ourselves of that so we do not feel truly obligated to help because sometimes the help needed is hard to deliver. I have seen people living under a bridge and I do not believe they are making a great living by doing so.

The woman I saw today looked devastated as she walked away. I thought about it throughout the drive back to the home I love. Was she being truthful? No idea. But I have examples in my own life to teach me about helping others.

A couple of years ago my brother fell down the steps at my house. He ended up being fine, but there was CPR involved and quite a bit of blood. Our son Korbin watched the whole thing. A few months later I fell when we were camping. I was not injured but I was loud. Korbin literally jumped. He started doing compressions on me. I told him I was fine but he kept it up. He worked his way from my feet all the way to my head. Once he was convinced, he stopped. To this day if he hears someone trip or stumble, he runs to them. He checks from head to toe.

I think it is cool that he thought he was saving me. But it is not just me. I have walked him all over a grocery store or at Sams Club because he can hear a baby crying. He can’t take it. He will look until he finds them, and he will not walk away until he sees proof there is someone taking care of the one in need. He won’t speak to them, but he won’t leave them either.

His example has me thinking. He does not like to touch people or to be touched by people. He is not conversational. He sort of lives within himself if that makes any sense. He does not have any material things to give. He also did not know how to give CPR, but he had seen it work. But when he sees a need that he relates to, he goes past his own tendencies. He makes himself go.

I cannot meet every need that I see, but I can help some of the needs that I see.

Why is it so hard to go past our own tendencies to help another human being?

Challenge: Preparing is good. I can carry bags of food. I can carry some cash. But preparing myself spiritually to notice the need Jesus points out is critical. Jesus does not ask us all to sell everything we own, but if I love the things I have more than I love the person standing in front of me, Jesus may love me by challenging me to give it away.

Rick Claiborn