Tough Times
A man who needed a little money for gas (he asked for $5) and a bite to eat just left my Pastor’s office. He (the Pastor) gave him $20. He (the Pastor) says his phone rings and his office is approached several times a week with folks who have need –a few dollars for gas or food, this month’s rent or house payment, help with utilities, or to pay the doctor or the plumber or the lawyer. He says it is the Church’s responsibility to care for those in need — the poor, the downtrodden, the abused, the helpless, the hopeless. I know he’s right. . .but, and since I don’t have his compassion, purpose, commitment and llove, this is a BIG BUT for me.
The truth is, no matter how much it hurts us to say so, many folks are in a “needing help” position because they have been foolish. People have bought houses they knew they could not afford, but everyone involved helped them make it happen. People have bought cars or boats or vacation property, or what-have-you, because everyone else has, and everyone involved helped them. Some have wasted their resources in profligate spending –booze, smokes, other drugs, and, well. . .all those other things in which people get interested, then focused, then hooked, then ultimately, by them destroyed.
I feel concerned, burdened — I don’t know, pick a word that makes you think I care, because I do, BUT people have to start helping themselves. From the CEO at GM –who’s agreeing to work for $1 next year (so would I if I had made Heaven only knows how many millions last year and the years before) to the person who squanders his wages, or his welfare, or his gift from guys like my Pastor, on nothing worthwhile, must recognize that they are responsible, they must change foolish behavior, they must work hard, practice discipline and moderation in all things, and stop buying stuff one can’t afford, be it a house, a BMW, or a bottle of Miller Lite.
God’s plan includes the reality that poor people are a part of this life. BUT, I am confident that He doesn’t want ALL of us to be needy, or overspent, or making foolish decisions, or wasting resources, because we have no discipline.
I think I’ll go back in my Pastor’s office and ask him to “give” me some of his compassion!