| Psalms 41:1 – “How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.” |
God sees and recompenses those with human compassion. I see the same homeless woman standing on the street corner most everyday. Sometimes, I see her handler checking her bag to see what she has collected. I wonder if she is forced to beg, could that be her boyfriend? Are they lazy? Disabled? Dishonest? Temporarily down on their luck? Making a living? Would my dollar help release them from this lifestyle, or encourage it all the more? I’ve given money and food to people on the street corner, but I never really felt like it was helping them in a good way. It reminds me of the old adage, ‘give a man a fish and you fed him a meal, teach him how to fish, and you’ve fed him for life.’
One day, I decided to keep a stack of encouraging Scriptures in my car to give each homeless person I am stopped beside at a red light. God knows each person and what their plight is. God says His Word will never return void, so I smile and roll down my window as I give a pleasant greeting and exclaim that ‘ I know God created you, knows you and loves you. He is an ever present help in times of trouble, be sure you are talking to Him,’ as I give them a small paper with an encouraging Word from the Lord. It seems to always be met with smiles and thanksgiving. Do they know how valuable the information on that little paper is? I sense that some of them do, and need that extra little bit of encouragement. God’s Word is everlasting, and the Bible is the treasure with all the survival skills needed for life. I don’t mind being stopped at a red light beside a person holding a sign, because I have something worth far more than gold or silver to give them. I hope to consider the helpless as I certainly want the Lord to consider me!
– Vicki Rance
