Helping the Poor and Needy

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, KJV

Something happened today that brought me to tears. I was truly wounded to my core. One of my Facebook friends, a very pleasant older lady with a strong work ethic who has worked many years over the course of her career life in a skilled and demanding profession, posted her frustration about being 12 days away from pay day and not knowing how she was going to purchase food.

I've seen her post her fears and hurt about being in such a predicament before, and her humiliation in having to 'beg her needs,' so to speak, radiates from her typewritten words stronger than any verbal expression ever could. Her distress has struck a nerve with me on other occasions, but this time to add to the poignancy of the situation other of her friends joined the refrain recounting their own past and current circumstances with being a part of the working poor.  

It's bad enough to have knowledge of the fact that she has worked so diligently for so many years, yet still has to face this challenge, but to see her anguish frequently met with disdain, scorn, apathy, and no compassion by others on her page is a dagger to my heart that I can't even begin to describe.

I'm aware that over the past few generations that we as a culture have been acclimated to become a generally 'me-centric' type of society, but have our hearts truly grown so cold that we can live in the comfort of fine homes, drive expensive cars, and eat 5-star cuisine, all the while fully aware that others are not only living a lifestyle that's not abundant, but that they are struggling to meet the essential needs of their daily life -- and it doesn't bother us even one bit?

I humbly submit that as we aggressively pursue better career and business opportunities that enable us to increase our standard of living that we might take just a moment to think of those far less fortunate than ourselves, and take some action motivated from a heartfelt place to fill a need that won't necessarily ever be reciprocated back our way.

Let us have hearts that extend beyond mere lip service and that represent a higher calling of character, godliness, and righteousness. 

 

May more of us be compelled to actions that portray a more loving and compassionate way of life.  

*Photo:  Franco Folini via Flickr.