Word of the Week is "Help" (Post #34)

"I think as the world becomes caught up in a mist of all that it "thinks" is the business of God, we still somehow miss the bold and obvious."

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So, the Wednesday Word for this Week is HELP!

1 John 3:17, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion--how can God's love be in that person?”(NLT)

Warning:  in many other instances, I’ve been guilty.

So, I was recently traveling in North Carolina and I saw a man standing by the road, holding a sign.  His sign wasn’t anything extraordinary; in fact, I believe we’ve seen them several times over.  It read this way:  “Money for Food.  Everybody needs a little help.”

Now, this scene wasn’t new at all.  In fact, I imagine that you can probably see this man in your imaginative mind.  He’s at a very busy intersection.  He’s old enough to be my dad and his clothes are worn.  He’s not proud, he’s not aggressive; rather, he’s humbled and very lowly. 

Still, all signs seem to prove that he’s going to be here for a while, because to the masses, he’s invisible. 

Now, you know just as well as I do, that he most certainly is not.  Fact is, EVERYBODY sees him; however, we’ve developed some sort of condition that provokes us not to see him.  In other words, we make the visible man, a necessary invisible man, because we’ve prejudged the man. 

We conclude that it’s purposeless to give him anything for some of the following reasons:

• He’s going to buy drugs or alcohol.
• He’s just faking and he’ll soon walk to his nice car and drive away.
• If he can stand there, he should go and stand on a job.
  
  

Granted, these are only our most notorious charges; however, I think you get the picture.

Now, allow me for a moment to speak honestly. 

FACT:  all of the aforementioned judgments COULD be true.  In other words, as horrible as it may sound, everything I just listed could be 100% accurate. 

However, in this moment of his perceived need, how can you prove it? 
I think it’s fair to say that we drive by him, because we’ve amazingly made his very challenging issue, somehow all about us, right?  I mean, we’ve essentially high-jacked his need for physical sustenance, in some desperate attempt to satisfy our need for pseudo-stewardship?  Crazy, right?

Well, today I was moved to help him for 2 reasons. 

#1:  I considered myself:  So, we’re getting to know each other, and I’m glad for that.  However, you may not know me well enough to make this statement.  Therefore, I’ll have to make it for myself.  After all, I know me and I know that if I was in that gentlemen’s shoes, I’d be telling the truth.  In other words, this is me, giving you my unverifiable word (I can’t lie, that was funny to type) that I would by no means be standing out there if I didn’t have a genuine need.  Now, if you don’t believe me when I tell you that, then that proves my point.  You see, his entire and potentially-honest narrative of need, could be completely lost due to our potentially-faulty judgment.  And sadly, as a result, his need remains unmet.  I decided to help him because I simply considered this man, from the lens of myself, and I knew immediately what I would want done and thus, what I needed to do. 

#2:  I had the means to help him:  No, I couldn’t save him for the week or the month; however, the week and the month had nothing to do with what he was asking for.  He didn’t seek a permanent solution or a savior, he just wanted help.  He was simply in a space where his momentary relief was hinged upon my willingness and compassion.  In that moment, there was only one necessary thought.  Only one necessary question: am I able to help him?  I knew I could, so I did.

I gave to this man.  To that, he said, “thank you.” To his thank you, I said, “you’re welcome.”  And he, nodded, and stayed the course; still seeking help as a humble man.

I think as the world becomes caught up in a mist of all that it "thinks" is the business of God, we still somehow miss the bold and obvious.  We donate to charities and send funds overseas; however, we are often times blind to the great opportunities to do great things in our own backyard.

“But you don’t know what he’s going to do with it”, she said.  To that I said, “that’s not my concern, nor is it any of my business.”  And, if you feel that way, then give him food instead.  All I’m saying is this:  Christ wanted us to simply understand that love is this:  if we have the means to help, and refuse to help, while we benefit from His Help, we only prove our ignorance towards His Will, and we sadly know nothing about Love.

Hey, as originally stated, I’ve been just as guilty.  Perfectly imperfect.

Lord, help me to transform into Your perfect understanding of Love.

Your thoughts?  Convicted?  Upset?  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know below.  Peace and love family.

Imperfectly,

​K. Jones, Sr.
@imperfection360
@kevindjonessr