Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Giving
I was driving with a friend when we pulled up to a main road where there was a man with a cardboard sign asking for money. We stopped, and as is often the case, I felt a little uneasy. I didn’t know if I should look at him, give him something, or ignore him. All of a sudden my friend said, “Wil, give this to that guy.” He handed me a gospel tract, and inside I found a $5 gift card to Wendy’s. In that moment I learned a very practical method. My friend was showing an interest in the need the man knew he had, but he was also showing compassion by helping with a need the man probably knew nothing about.
It is amazing how many of us give when we know that someway, somehow, we will be repaid for it. It is easy to do good things for a friend because there is a good chance he will pay me back. But when I give to someone who will never be able to or inclined to repay me, God alone can repay me. That puts me in the position of blessing.
Proverbs 19:17 says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” God doesn’t need. He needs nothing from me in the sense that He would go hungry or be in jeopardy if I don’t give. Yet the Bible says that when I give to those who cannot repay me, I am lending to the Lord.
I am reminded of Mark 9:41 when Jesus said to his disciples, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” A person can do no greater than to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Who gave to those who can never repay. We are blessed when we give what God alone could repay.