Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Homeless in Seattle, or anywhere else for that matter

Do you give money to beggars on the street?  If so, are we helping to solve the problem of poverty or are we simply easing our consciences?  Here is one issue that we all face at some time or another.  How do we respond?  How should we?  Rather than "I think", let's turn to Scripture and see where it leads us.  I pulled these verses for us to consider.
NIV Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
NIV 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
NIV Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
NIV Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
NIV Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
There are many others that I could have listed.  Scripture is full of guidance about our interacting with those less fortunate.  But as we can see, not always clear.  I will let us sit on this one for a bit and come back to it.

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AUTHOR: Todd Nelson TITLE: Homeless in Seattle, or anywhere else for that matter DATE: 8/21/2007 07:45:00 PM ----- BODY:
Do you give money to beggars on the street?  If so, are we helping to solve the problem of poverty or are we simply easing our consciences?  Here is one issue that we all face at some time or another.  How do we respond?  How should we?  Rather than "I think", let's turn to Scripture and see where it leads us.  I pulled these verses for us to consider.
NIV Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
NIV 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
NIV Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
NIV Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
NIV Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
There are many others that I could have listed.  Scripture is full of guidance about our interacting with those less fortunate.  But as we can see, not always clear.  I will let us sit on this one for a bit and come back to it.
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