Beg, Borrow and

Here is a difficult prescription to swallow.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. - Matthew 5:42

When I was younger, I tried to avoid finding myself in situations where I would encounter people who asked for money.

I knew that if asked, I would feel compelled to give, because Jesus set the bar high.  Love one another is a tough commandment to keep.

Yesterday I had an encounter with someone I see everyday.  He usually keeps to himself, sitting away from everyone else, drawing on paper or on a t-shirt.

He has no phone, so occasionally he will ask if he can use ours to call family members to ask them for money.

I have managed to learn a little about his situation, but for the most part, he remains a mystery.  He keeps all his fear and anger very close to the surface, so it doesn't take much to set him off.

He is at times desperate.

I cannot imagine living the way he does.  It is so much easier to give him a few dollars and let him go on his way, than to find him real help.

What type of help does he need?  How can his life be improved?

When we encounter situations that seem hopeless, we tend to offer our sympathy and move on, not being equipped to help in a meaningful way. 

In that context, what Jesus suggests is really the simplest approach.  If asked, give.

But I think there is a hook here.  When I give to someone I see often, I have no choice but to get to know that person over time, and then our relationship starts to change.

When I come to know you, I may actually care about you, and once that happens, the whole love your neighbor thing kicks in.

My opinion of you changes, and maybe that's the point. 

Pray for those we want to pass by, that they may find someone willing to stop and take the time to get to know them.

More to come...