It is a difficult thing to see beggars on the street corner. All that we say we believe flashes before our eyes and burns in our hearts. I was raised in a hard working blue collar world that rewarded the industrious and penalized the lazy. More often than not when I see one of these unfortunates, I'm not moved with compassion but with indignation. (Please don't write me to correct me as I already struggle with what is right!) I often think of the words in Scripture, "if a man won't work, neither let him eat." I see those asking for handouts and I study their appearance. Some of them are obviously well fed, smoking expensive cigarettes and have fat well fed dogs with them. Then the inner war begins. Are these folks con men and women? Out on the streets taking advantage of our Christian compassion? I have seen some reject food, refuse to work even while holding a sign, "will work for food!" I have seen teams of them unloading from vans, working an area in the city and regrouping later to share their spoils! My humanity wants to scream, "Get a job, you bum!" Then as I drive away the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit begins to seep into my consciousness. "How do you know the truth of this person's condition or need?" They may be whole physically but crippled emotionally. Then I am reminded that we might be "entertaining angels and not be aware." Certainly there are professional beggars who learn to play upon our Christian conviction and conscience. But what if our turning away from them has calloused our hearts to the point that we are now insulated against genuine needs or even angels? The enemy has now positioned us into a place where we may be robbed of a "God event" in our future. What a difficult dilemma! I believe the Holy Spirit can reveal to us the difference between the real and the fake but how good are we at discerning in this way? I'll leave you with words from the Bible commentator Matthew Henry who lived between 1662-1714:
"It is better to feed five drones, or wasps, than to starve one bee."
Matthew Henry
