Livin' the life...

Recently on a visit to another city, I witnessed number of persons scattered about the main streets begging for money. At one point I passed by this gentleman, and noting his apparent ill-fortune, I decided that I simply must 'give'. As I headed back his way a few minutes later therefore, I fished in my pocket for a pound or two to make ready to deposit into his hat. As I got closer to where he was, surprisingly, up popped the guy, he put a beer can to his head, and then quickly walked away, leaving the few pence in his hat on the pavement. I really wasn't sure what to make of this i.e. whether the significance for me was in the consuming of beer, or in the small donations and hat left behind.

The point of me recapping this little story however is in neither of those two final observations. My reason for this story stems from us as Christians giving to others, freely and openly of whatever we have, even though, persons out there will be very willing to prey on the kindness of our hearts. I'm sure we all have read 1 John 3:16-20 at some stage but just to recap it states:

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Now, please don't take this (i.e. giving) to the other extreme, but instead let's remember those out there in need, and how much brighter we could make someone's life by giving to them - of whatever we have, e.g. clothes, food, help, advice, or money - today.

Have a great week. :-)