Whoever cares for the poor makes a loan to the Eternal;
such kindness will be repaid in full and with interest.
Proverbs 19:17
The Voice
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The Currency of Kindness
I’m sitting in my car tonight and watching people come and go, as a young man holds out his cup, hoping for a little help. He isn’t drunk or high. That’s clear. But as evening begins to settle, there’s an urgency in his voice — a quiet desperation — as he tries to gather the £20 or so he needs for a bed in the hostel before nightfall.
It’s 31 degrees in Scotland today — a rare, baking heat — and he’s been sitting there for hours in the blistering sun. Some passers-by drop coins into his polystyrene cup. Others walk past, eyes averted. But it’s not enough. You can see the despair in the lines etched on his face.
We so easily make excuses: “He’s probably an addict,” we say, or, “It’s their own fault.” And just like that, we talk ourselves out of compassion. But tell me — if someone is willing to sit for hours in that heat, humbling themselves for the chance of a bed and a shower, how can we justify walking by?
Many young people find themselves in desperate situations through no fault of their own. Life can unravel quickly. A home lost. A relationship broken. A support system gone. Sometimes, all that stands between someone and despair is a kind stranger.
We don’t give to feel good, albeit we do. We don’t give for that adrenalin rush; we don’t give to obtain kudos from God. We give because we are part of a human race that has the quality of selfless love. But in that act of unselfish love, God is in our debt. Try and get your head around that promise from God.
Whoever cares for the poor makes a loan to the Eternal;
such kindness will be repaid in full and with interest.
Proverbs 19:17
The Voice
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.