A Small Thing, But Who Knows How Big the Result Will Be?

Yesterday when I was at the hospital for a visit, a lady approached my sister and I and told us she hadn’t eaten for three days and wanted 2.80 to buy a hot dog. I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not a hot dog was what she really wanted. However, I have had to long ago settle people’s motives for asking for help with God. If I have it, and feel led to give, I will – and I don’t try to determine whether or not they are going to use the funds for something other than meeting their need for food.

According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, this is the picture of the homeless in Chicago:

“Per our 2008-09 analysis, families made up 46.5 percent of Chicago’s homeless population. There were 24,022 children (32.4 percent) and 10,489 parents (14.1 percent).

Unaccompanied youth (through age 17) made up 6.7 percent, or 4,965 youths.

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Single adults made up 46.7 percent, or 34,673 single adults.”

That is a lot of people, and those are only the people who are reported.

As the warm weather approaches, there will be more people on the street with signs or cups indicating they are in need. How each of us handle this is a personal decision – but for those who choose to give, why not carry with you a stack of tracks with the plan of salvation. True enough, many may discard it, but who knows…. God has told us that:

10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 10-12 (KJV)

We have all creation backing up the distribution of God’s Word! Who knows what a simple track might do? Yes, we have technology that is boldly and creatively proclaiming the gospel, streaming live 24 hours a day! But how many homeless peole have access to technology? If we look back at the 19th century, before there were televisions and computers and Ipod’s , etc. – there were simple men like Charles Spurgeon and Dwight L. Moody who used “The Wordless Book” to get the message of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ over to people, many of whom could not read or write, but who could undertand the three and/or four color message portrayed in this book that depicted the gospel message.

We are confronted with a choice as to whether to give to a homeless person or not, why not give them a choice to find the “living bread” and “the water” that will help them never to be thirsty again!

Selah,
Maria