What do you need?

This article is a confession to something that I am guilty of as well as many Christians. Today I write about giving.

A couple of weeks ago I went to my Sunday school class, that day taught by my grandmother. She taught about giving and reasons that we should give and times when we fall short of doing so. On my way home after church, it could never be more ironic when I saw a man on the side of the road, dirty, dressed in camo and holding a cardboard sign that read, “Please help. Traveling. God bless you.” After passing by him, I thought of how easy it would have been to hand him a couple dollars I had in my pocket. I then recalled what James said in James 2:15-17 and felt convicted for not doing anything for the guy.

I can think of a few reasons why Christians are reluctant to give to every person who stands on the side of the road with a sign that says, “Hungry. Please help.” Some might look on them and say, “he should just get a job,” or, “he just want’s money to spend on drugs or alcohol.”

For me, I usually do not give out of suspicion. The particular area the man was standing in that day was in a populous area and thus, I found, a hot spot for people to carry signs asking for help. For all I knew, the guy really did need help and chose that place for the public area that it was. Then again, maybe it was just someone who wanted extra cash and dirtied himself up to look like he was in need.

One of reasons that I am suspicious is how I grew up. One of the challenges that I faced as an American living in the Philippines was the constant knocking at the door from someone who claimed to needed help. Americans or white people are usually targeted by beggars because people generally saw them as wealthy individuals. We were advised by friends not to give money, not even to children. For all we knew, they were only being used by an older person to get money. The reason we had to be careful about giving money was because if we did, we would probably do them more harm than good.

My friend works at a church who has a policy against giving money to people who come and ask for help. The church is targeted a lot because people like to hold Christians to their charity, but sometimes that charity is taken advantage of. My friend has no problem with giving and makes the argument that what that person does with her money is between him and God.

I also remember a time when my grandmother and I stopped to eat somewhere and she waited in the car while I went inside. When I came back she told me how a guy came up to her window and asked her to give him money to help him and his family. I asked her if she was sure that that guy was telling the truth, and I remember her saying, “He may have been pulling my leg, but at least I was able to show him some kindness.”

Giving to the poor has become harder in this age because people have become less honest and like to take advantage of our hospitality, and it is hard to distinguish the deceitful from those who really are in need. But maybe it is not for us to judge that person for being a liar. It might only be for us to show the kindness that God demands of His followers.

And giving to those in need should not be limited to money. There is a lot that a person can do with money, and sometimes it does not go to where it should. Whatever it is that a person really needs should be met directly. Sometimes what they need is food, shelter, clothing, and even you time to listen to their problems. And one thing that everyone can use is your prayer.

Sometimes people put the blame on God and ask, “Why isn’t God doing anything to help those in need? Where is He when people need Him?” I think the right answer to that is the same question directed to ourselves. “Why aren’t you doing anything to help those in need? Where are you when people need Him?” God called us to be His hands and feet. If we don’t lend a hand to those who are hungry, thirsty, cold, tired and hurting, then we are failing to be the stewards that God has called us to be.

Again this is an article that convicts me as I write it. As I make this challenge, I am challenging myself to do likewise. It won’t be easy and it will take faith to do it, but if giving is what God demands of me then how can I refuse Him?