I’m still hoping that I wasn’t scammed.

They looked like a family having hard times, but for all I know those “kids” may have been actors of very small stature.

All right, so maybe that’s a little cynical.

Maybe.

Last week I ran into a test of my faith.  The test came in the form of a family in need.  At least, their sign said they were in need.

Now, if you have been reading this blog for any length of time (bless your little heart), you will know that I have issues with motivation.  I second and third guess myself about not only what the right thing to do is, but about why I want to do it.

That was the situation at the restaurant.  I sat there wondering whether I should help these people.  If I should help, how?  Cash?  Food?  I finally did buy them dinner, but was left wondering if I had done too much, or perhaps too little.

Enough of this; I’ve been having this same debate with myself for years.  It is time for a plan, one that balances the biblical mandate to care for the poor with the equally biblical mandates to be a good steward of my finances and to address the heart of the issue, not just the symptoms.

As I ponder and pray, I realize that I have already addressed the motivation issue.  Have you ever done that?  Solved a problem, only to return to it later as though it were still a problem?  Anyway, to quote myself in an earlier post, “It doesn’t matter if I have mixed reasons for wanting to help.  As long as I’m an imperfect man, I will have imperfect motives.  If I allow that to keep me from doing good, all I have really done is denied a blessing to someone who I could have, well, blessed.  So, I’ll do the good that I see to do, and trust my heart to God.”

So, that question is officially and forever put to rest.  I will help.

But how?

I’ve gotta tell you, I still don’t feel right about giving money directly.  There are two reasons for this.  First, I don’t trust that the cash is actually going to purchase the food, hotel room, bus fare to Nebraska, etc. that most of these folks claim to need.   I can’t afford to be wasteful of my resources, and I don’t want to be a party to self-destruction.  Second, it kind of seems like the easy way out.  I mean, you throw a buck at someone and your conscience is eased, but so what?  It’s all kind of faceless, impersonal.  I don’t see Jesus giving like that.  He looked people in the eye, spoke to them, made a connection.

That’s the part that scares me.  Frankly, I have no interest in making a connection with most of the people I encounter in these situations.

I don’t particularly like that about myself, but there it is.

Still, I want to be more like Jesus.  I want to live a life “Worthy of the calling…” and that is going to require me to make some changes.

So, here’s the plan.  I won’t give cash, for the reasons I’ve already mentioned.  I will use my God-given wisdom and common sense to steer clear of the window washers and gas station scammers.

But…

When I am presented with the opportunity to buy someone a meal, I will take it.  I will sit with them, hear their story, learn their names.  I will share Christ with them, and let God turn soda to wine (metaphorically) and a burger meal into communion.  I will learn about the local shelters, and keep blankets in my car for those who sleep out on the cold nights.  I may not end the plight of the poor, but I will do what I can with what I have for the people God brings across my path.

Looks good on the computer screen.  If I can match actions to words, it will be a significant step towards being a grown man, instead of just an old guy.

I’d love to see some discussion on this, so that I don’t think I’m talking to the wall.  How do you handle these situations?  What’s your family policy…or do you have one?

Uh oh… my Beautiful One has pointed out that my grand new plan is hardly a family policy. It only really works for me—I don’t feel comfortable having my wife or kids sit down with a total stranger who may be unstable.  Looks like more praying and pondering are in order.

For a brief, shining moment, I had it all figured out.

What was I thinking?