Matthew 25:40 - The
King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
I’m sure we’re all used to the phrase, “Don’t judge, you don’t
know their story.” However, people rarely live by this and it’s most often
heard when somebody doesn’t want to stop the destructive behavior they’re
taking part in. Either way, it’s a legit line and I really feel like we miss
the deepest aspect of it. My husband and I were driving through Springfield
yesterday which is a large city. There are always career panhandlers at
specific corners trying to meet their daily quota with whatever sob story they’ve
contrived. I was still sad for them. This annoyed my husband that I would have
pity on those who were basically stealing from kindhearted folks just wanting
to lend a helping hand. He understood once I explained what was running through
my thoughts. Those career panhandlers got there somehow. How did they grow up
or what did they go through that made them decide to be that lying, swindling
person on the side of the road? What caused them to rather don ratty clothes
and look dirty and unkempt in order to try and get money instead of get a job?
Are they capable of getting a job or did they resort to panhandling because
they ran out of options and gave up? Even when we think we have the story
figured out about someone, you would be surprised how wrong many of us are. Don’t
ever think you know the entire story behind someone’s suffering even if that
suffering presents itself as an atrocity to any average person. Before you turn
your nose up at the drunk on the side of the road wanting more money, stop and
think about a few reasons why he might be there. You see all the videos on
Facebook and I know a lot of you either cry or are deeply touched. If it helps,
play it out in your head like one of those videos if that’s what it takes. You
know, everyone is talking about the presidential candidates and usually it’s
negative. Pointing out how horrible they are because of this this and this. It
annoys the ever living snot out of me. Every single one of us would look just
as horrible if we were under a microscope. Does that mean I agree with all of
their actions? Definitely not. However, was I there? Did I see what happened in
person? Have I met them myself? No, which means I’m taking all of my info from
a secondhand source which is popularly the media. We ALL know the media has a
great way of twisting things. They’re all about drama. Stop going through life
with your “I’m going to find every reason I can to be negative” cap on. Stop
and feel. Stop and let your mind wander to the other side of things and allow
your heart to feel what it is that these people have gone through or may be
currently going through. Let your eyes look at people how Jesus would look at
people. He didn’t seem them as their mistake, He saw them as the scared and
lost person they are. Mentally they’re sitting in a corning shivering, begging,
searching, needing. As Christians, we’re to remedy this and show them a warmth
and grace that changes their lives forever. So, the next time you see a man or
woman stealing, don’t snarl, pray. The next time you want to bash the presidential
candidates, pray for them and our country, both are under a lot of pressure.
Stop and feel. Stop and pray. It’s that simple.
Galatians 6:2 - Bear
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
