I don’t know why, but the Lord has me on this subject this week and I have to keep sharing stories like this until he allows me to move on to another subject. This is for someone this week…I pray it ministers to you.
One night about a year ago, Breanne dropped by and ask me to go shopping with her in another city, it was late and I really didn’t want to go and I told her just that. However, a few minutes later the Lord said ‘go with her.’ So I went. I assumed she just needed to get out but God had other, higher plans.
By the time we arrived at the stores there was only an hour left of opening hours for most stores, so we quickly got what she wanted and got in line. It is a certainty that if there is going to be an issue in line at the cash register, I will get in that line. I choose the line that seemed shortest and waited while the couple in front of me paid for their items. I began to watch as the cashier was taking things out of their bag to take it off their receipt. I realized they didn’t have enough money.
The manager came over and told me to go to a different register to finish my purchase so off I went, all the while thinking of this couple. They were soft spoken, with a gentleness about them and I was moved with compassion. Breanne walked over to me and said ‘gosh, that makes me want to cry.’ I walked back over to the couple who was still trying to work out a way to get a bag of chicken nuggets and I said ‘excuse me, can I just pay for their items?’ The manager looked annoyed because he just wanted them to go away, but said ‘yes you can.’ The young man said ‘I’m sorry for holding you up ma’am.’ I said ‘you are not holding me up, let me pay for these.’
I looked down the line at the people that were waiting, I saw no compassion, I saw irritation and frustration, I even saw anger, but no compassion. The people in line just wished they would go on and I had to wonder what was happening to our world. How have we grown so cold? Where is the heart of God! I knew if Jesus were in this line, he would have taken care of their groceries even if it meant holding up the entire store.
Mark 10:21 says ‘when we give to the poor we store up treasures in heaven.’ Proverbs 10:17 says ‘when we give to the poor we lend to the Lord.’ God expects us to have a giving heart and to be willing to give even out of our own lack. It is in giving that we receive. I know I say that over and over but if we would only get it, we would be living with much less lack in our own lives.
A part of what this ministry does is give to the poor, feed the hungry, cloth little children and help people who need help. But that was not on my mind last night as I saw this couple. I didn’t think the ministry needs to take care of this; no, I thought I need to take care of this. I saw a desperate need and I had to fix it, I was moved with compassion. I may never see this couple again, but if I was moved with compassion, don’t you think it was the God in me moving me? I certainly think so.
In practical terms of sowing and reaping, before I can reap…I must sow. Instead of thinking people are holding me up or wasting my time, I have to allow my heart to be moved for the people God brings across my path. This is not the first time it has happened to me, I jokingly tell Breanne if there is anyone who doesn’t have enough money to pay for their groceries, God always puts me behind them in the grocery line. And it is my pleasure. It is not a tax deduction for me, it is not something I feel haughty about, quite the opposite…it humbles me and brings me to tears every single time. I am honored that my God thinks if there is a need and I can meet it, he can put me in the right place at the right time and I will obey. I haven’t always had the ‘extra’ money to help someone but if God brings them across my path and I give what I have to give, he always takes care of me…as I lend to the Lord, he repays.
We must prepare our heart so that the ground of our heart is not hard or fallow. I think because of situations we have allowed our heart to become hard at times; we see a need and think things like; they are living off the system, they need to get a job…and perhaps they do…but that is not my call to make. If I am moved with compassion that is a sure sign that Jesus has shown up on the scene and I need to respond in love, mercy and compassion.
Luke 3:11 says ‘if you have two coats give one to someone who needs it and if they need food, give it to them.’ That’s all I did. A small thing; but if we all do a small thing there will be much less lack in the world. Friends, allow compassion to become a part of your life. Allow the compassion of Jesus to flow through you today and every day. Keep in mind, as you do, you lend to the Lord … and He will repay.
