This has been on my heart and I wanted to share this experience…
I have been remembering the Bible Verse Matthew 25: 35-40 for a while about giving to those who ask… And for some reason, I haven’t been able to shake it out of me and it keeps coming up.
Today I went to go return an item from the store in exchange for something else. While returning it, the cashier didn’t make a straight trade but instead gave me $21 cash for the return and then I paid (in card) for the new purchase. It’s rare that I have cash on me because normally I just carry my debit card.
After leaving the store I saw a homeless man at a stoplight with a sign in his hands that said something along the lines of “Need money for food”
As I sat there at the light and read his sign I kept thinking about the bible verse Matthew 25:35-40 and said to myself
“Lord, why is it that I don’t want to give this man money? After the times that I give homeless people money for “food” I see them take it into a liquor store or walk away from the nearest grocery store and walk off to do who knows what with the money I just gave them?
If only someone had a sign or just asked for food straight up, I would feel so much better about giving this $21 cash You gave me.”
Hours later around 11:00pm my girlfriend and I go to grab frozen yogurt and are eating it by our car when a guy in a wheelchair comes up and says, “Excuse me sir. I am so hungry and don’t have a home to live in and just want some food. Do you mind if you can buy me something? It doesn’t matter what it is but I am very hungry and anything will help?”
Knowing that God placed this man here at my feet to grant me my prayers, I happily accepted and looked for the nearest place to eat and saw Fuddrucker’s Burgers.
We walked over there together and I got to know him. His name is Byron and he had some unfortunate circumstances happen to him in the last few months. I told Byron to order whatever he would like. He politely asked the lady behind the counter for the smallest order and I told them to upgrade it to a larger burger with fries and whatever he wanted to drink. His eyes lit up and he got super excited! Byron said he would have a half pound bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries and a vanilla shake with whip cream.
We sat and talked and I was really enjoying just getting to know Byron and his life and how he got where he is today and what his plans were after getting this meal and what his plans were for tomorrow. He responded, “I am looking for housing and have had such a difficult time finding a place but I know the Lord will provide just like He provided you in my life to bless me with this food when I didn’t have anything to eat.”
As Byron told me this my heart was both totally broken for Byron but also completely full of gratitude knowing God was in all of this teaching both me and Byron that He answers prayers and provides.
After receiving his order/to-go bag, he said, “I really have to go, I am going home and have to catch my bus back to the station (over by Baylor Hospital where he lives at night). Thank you so much for the food.”
When he strolled off, I met back up with my girlfriend with such a full heart and thanking God for such an awesome time with Byron.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:35-40
Yale – Dallas TX – Aug 29, 2015
