Thursday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 8/24/00

Proverbs 14: 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. --NASB

In the name of the One Who causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, amen.

"Charity begins at home." That's an excuse many people use to keep from helping others. Being a man of sound logic, I've used one that was the result of a little more thought. I've been in other countries where people would beg outside of churches. I would think, "What if they are getting rich off of this and don't even need the money? Or what if this is part of a Mafia scam?" I didn't think to ask the obvious question, "What if they really do need this?" I didn't think of it until I saw someone, who should have been begging herself, give money to a man who was begging. It was to my great shame.

When we do acts of Christian charity, we do not need to worry about whether the person truly needs it or not-that is between them and God. I'm not suggesting that we should be foolish, but when we do something for someone we should do it with the confidence that it is to honor God, and not worry about their sincerity.

If we are honest with ourselves, there are undoubtedly times when all of us have failed to help when we could have, because we explained the need away. That fact can cause us to help others in an attempt to make up for not helping in the past. But rather than spoil the charity we would show to others by making it a way to calm our consciences, we should confess our shortcomings to Christ and ask His forgiveness. Jesus, Who was rich, came into this world as a poor man so that we who were spiritually poor might become rich in Him. Christ fed the poor and helped them so that we could appear righteous to God in Him. Now we are able to help the poor and honor God, rather than silence our guilty consciences. Amen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You took pity on us when we were spiritually poor. Forgive us when we don't take pity on others. Help us to give what we have to help others and honor Your glorious name, amen.

Copyright 2000 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org