Overwhelmed
A friend of mine, Vince, has a rule…whenever someone asks him for money he empties his wallet - no questions asked.
Historically I have been one to quickly judge people. No compassion, just criticism. Giving my hard earned money (there is the problem - thinking that it’s my money) away to people who might use it unwisely was a difficult proposition for me. But I did it.
So you’re thinking… How much has this cost you? Not much. Outside of giving one guy in Tulsa, OK $61 it hasn’t really had any monetary impact.
Until this week. I’ve been in San Francisco for the last five days. Unlike home, where I might have one or two opportunities per week, here there are five or six opportunities an hour.
Within a fifteen minute time frame last night I was approached by a woman who was pregnant, a man suffering with AIDS, a guy who needed food for his dog, and one guy who was blatantly honest is wanting to pay for a prostitute.
However good I felt about helping those at home, I have been reminded this week that there is still much to be done.
May 8, 2008 at 11:33 am
I am intrigued by this post…
A friend of mine and I are working on a book. You can read about the Journey we have started at Philer48.wordpress.com
We are interested in your story.
We will be looking to gather stories like yours to incorporate into our book about Phil 4:8. Would you be willing to let us contact you in the future to talk to you about your story, and why you open your wallet the way you do? What lead you to know it was the right thing to do?
You can contact us at the e-mail address on our web site.
Praise God, In Christ
May 8, 2008 at 11:34 am
Shoot.. It is Philter48.wordpress.com
May 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
I think giving the money shouldn’t be tied to what the other person is going to do with it necessarily. They will be judged by someone else on how they used the resources they were given. And I will be judged on how I used the resources I was given. I’m really trying to have a more generous spirit. Even without having “Oprahmoney” as I call it.
May 8, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Joni, I’ve always had that philosophy. It’s not “my” money and what that someone does with it is between them and God. If I try to judge each incident, I might miss that one time that might truly make a difference in someone’s life. Every person that touched Jesus’ robe, was healed. Every instance when he was trusted, there was a miracle performed. I heard this one time and it’s stuck with me ever since: If you do nothing, nothing will happen. But if you do something, you open a door for God to work a miracle in someone’s life.
May 8, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Carl - I’ll contact you when I return from my trip.
Joni and Lori - It is “freeing” to stop worrying about what the other person will do with the money. Can you really determine the character of a person or how they arrived at this place in two seconds?
I never want to miss an opportunity that God may have prepared for me…I’ve wasted too many of those opportunities already.
May 8, 2008 at 10:02 pm
i’d agree…christ didn’t ask when he fed the 5,000 or when used the ceremonial jars for hand washing to fill with wine for the wedding.
do we have an example of the savior asking why to anyone in need?
May 8, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Scott, Michael…
You guys are just the kind of crazies that Jesus uses…
What makes a guy who has been fishing his whole life follow some guy that came on his boat one day…?
What makes that same guy step off his boat and walk on water…
Don’t let anyone take your eyes off Jesus… !!!!
May 8, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Michael - That’s funny. Can you imagine Jesus asking for a resume?
Avery - Thanks, man. I think everyone would agree we are a little crazy.