Give to Him That Asketh of Thee

His eyes were sky blue. They reminded me of the color of my grandfather’s eyes, except his had not been drained of hope, as this man’s seemed to be. The red light did not give us much time to chat, and the temperature registered in negative numbers with the wind chill.

The man stood shivering at the corner with nothing on over his clothes but a sweatshirt. This was no panhandler with a nice car parked a few blocks away. Who would stand outside on a day that was not fit for man and beast?

My family and I were driving our usual route to visit my son at college, and I knew one of my blessing bags would not cut it this time. This man needed more than food. My husband called back to the girls for his coat, and just as the light changed, we got it out the window to him. I wept and prayed for him as we continued on our way, knowing there was not much more we could do for him. God sees him and loves him more than we could. I took refuge in that fact.

When I came up to see my son yesterday, I saw the man on the same corner. It was a bit warmer, but raining. Still, he stood at the same corner. He was wearing my husband’s coat. I prayed for him again and asked the Lord if there might be something I could do for him on my way back later this week. Perhaps a blessing bag will be more of a blessing then.

(Blessing Bags are what I started making after I wrote this post. They are ziplock bags filled with a pair of wool socks, a bottle of water, some snacks with a long shelf-life, and a Gospel tract with a handwritten note.)

The place I volunteer, in an inner-city area of Akron, has many people in need. One day, when I arrived, someone mentioned a person sleeping on the back porch. One of the women asked for prayer for the person and herself, as she was heading out with a cup of coffee and one of my blessing bags that I offered. I thought she might hand it off and head back inside on a very cold day. She didn’t. She sat down and chatted with the shivering woman, listening as she told her how she had gotten there. The woman mentioned the homeless shelter nearby had offered a sermon, but no place to sleep. There was really nothing that could be done for her at that moment, but my friend offered what she had: a listening ear, and a cup of coffee with a few snacks. Then she prayed over her, asking God to intervene in this woman’s life and for the help only He could provide. The woman went on her way. I do not know the rest of her story, but that moment changed my perspective on how often I overlook those whom God sees.

What would it be like to have people avert their eyes when they walk past your obvious need? What would it be like to be offered a sermon, but not a place to stay? What would it be like to have no one to listen to you, love you, or seem to care?

Proverbs 31:20
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

The Proverbs 31 woman is exemplified in Scripture for sacrificing herself as she reaches out to her husband, her children, her servants, and her community. The words used in this passage indicate that she was not afraid to touch those who were hurting and in desperate need. It was not a neat little donation of clothing at a local distribution center. It was not throwing a couple of extra dollars in the offering plate to “take care of those people over there.”

“She stretcheth out her hands”—Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines this as, “to draw out to greater length, to be extended, to reach.” She extended herself beyond what was comfortable.

“She reacheth forth…” has the definition of “to deliver with the hand by extending the arm.” She put herself within proximity to hand deliver her gift.

Jesus demonstrated this by touching those who were untouchable. Matthew 8:3, 9:20, Luke 5:13.

Jesus reached out because He had compassion. Matthew 20:34, Mark 1:41.

Jesus was not afraid to show kindness to little children, even though His followers tried to send them away. Matthew 19:13-15. You can be sure that it was a bit messy and germy, and maybe a bit smelly, as well!

One of Jesus’s followers was raised from the dead because her friends called Peter and showed him the life she had poured into caring for the least of these. Acts 9:36-42.

Scripture has much to say about how His people treat those who are suffering in poverty.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord;
and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Proverbs 19:17

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Psalm 41:1

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matthew 5:42

Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:34-35

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ephesians 4:28

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:16

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17

And yes, Jesus did say, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” Mark 14:7 This was not a reason to stop giving to the poor, but a rebuttal to Judas’ hypocrisy when he protested that lavishing love on Jesus was denying care to the poor.

I submit that one way we lavish love on Jesus is by seeing those created in His image and reaching out to them to meet their needs, both physical and spiritual.

This does not have to mean giving them money that may be used for an addiction.

It does mean “seeing them” instead of looking away. It does mean asking, “Lord, what would you have me do?” It does mean, if the situation is warranted, stopping to ask, “How can I pray for you today?” It does mean recognizing that there is no person that God does not love.

I have much room to grow in this area, and I would love to hear of the ways you are already reaching out to meet the needs of others. And if this post moved you to reach out in new ways, please let me know. I would love to hear how God works in your life like He is in mine. Have a blessed day, my friends!