when have you seen Jesus in the poor?

 



There is a video floating about of a man who has a losing lottery ticket, but he wants to do something nice for someone, so he sets it up that the ticket will pay out and gives the ticket to a homeless man, telling him he has no money, but does have a lottery ticket. "Let's go see what it's worth, he says. Together, they go to a convenience store and the homeless man finds out the ticket was "worth" one thousand dollars, which is "paid out." Immediately, the homeless man hands over some money back to his "benefactor," saying he wants to return the favor. The benefactor is so humbled that he also begins to cry! The homeless man is heard saying that no one has ever, ever, ever done anything like this before for him. My fear was that, at some point, the guy who initiated the whole thing would take the money back, saying that it was all a prank. Instead, he too, is reduced to tears and the video ends.

This is where I wonder, what happens next. How does the homeless man use this money for himself? I hope it is to get himself  a place to stay for awhile, to get himself cleaned up and rested, maybe even a good dinner.

I imagined also this happening during Jesus' time on earth. Although Jesus didn't have any money to give to anyone, He did have Hope. He offered Hope, Love, Faith to many many people. So when I watch the life of Jesus and see how quickly they turned from Hope to hate...when they screamed "crucify Him!" it tears me apart! Crucify Him? But...this is Jesus! This is the One who healed you, who also hurt for you, who came to SAVE you...and you would turn Him aside all because of what...? Of fear of the unknown? Of maybe not agreeing with the crowd, so He was cast off?

My friend, in today's world, we have not become much better now than they were those many thousands of years ago. We still throw others to the wolves, under the bus, or whatever term you use. We still cast a blind eye to the hungry, the disabled, those who are ANY DIFFERENT FROM WHO WE ARE! in an effort to appear "just like everyone else!" Does this make sense to you? Why? Of what do we fear? Of being picked on, laughed at, told we just are as crazy as that homeless guy is?
and so...what is so wrong with that?

Matthew 25:34-40 says: "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?"
Now comes the best part! Verse 40 says,  "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

In thinking this over, this statement goes both ways. If you have done well by another, you have also done well by Jesus. If you have cast another aside, you have basically just spit in Jesus' face as well.......

People...life is short! Show compassion!
We get so caught up in what other people think..."what will people say if I do this?"
What will GOD say if you DON'T??

If you see an opportunity to be a friend, to show compassion, by all means...just DO it! Don't wait for permission and certainly, don't wait for anyone's approval! Maybe  being the odd one out is a good thing! Maybe you'll be "entertaining angels unawares."
That can be a good thing.