I was talking to a good buddy of mine and she shared a story of a kind man who was offered a job. For weeks this man sat out in front of the store in which she worked with no food, blankets, clothing, or anything. One by one folks passing by offered him brand new clothing, a brand new blanket, hot meals, and plenty of drinks to keep him hydrated in this blistering heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This young man always is courteous and will help bring the cards back inside the store when customers leave them in the parking lot. So one day the gentleman was offered a job by the manager. For one reason or another he declined the offer and said he already had a job. Over the next few days, other persons must have asked the man why he didn\u2019t fill out the application. What seemed so peculiar is the man had given several different reasons of why he didn\u2019t want the job but was always seen sitting and pushing the carts in for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now one would assume he is either senile, lazy, or maybe his \u201cjob\u201d was to sit back and let his blessings fall in his lap. No one knows his reasons, but prayerfully he has a good one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An old saying, \u201ca man that doesn\u2019t work, doesn\u2019t eat.\u201d Does that truly apply to folks these days? Here this man does not appear to have a job but he is eating, he has clothes, he has something to keep him warm, and he keeps the parking lot clean although he is not on anyones clock or receiving a paycheck for it. Quite peculiar huh?!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not our place to assume the worse, try to figure out what his story is, or to pass judgement on him but for those who have helped this young man; they surely haven\u2019t blocked God\u2019s blessings by providing where they saw a need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see when I first heard the story I was only looking from my lens. I initially assumed the man was lazy and had gotten so used to people giving him stuff maybe he didn\u2019t feel like he had to work for things. But then after studying the Word and reading some of Solomon and Paul\u2019s wisdom, my mindset started to shift. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started to think of the many ways we as a people see persons in need and because we are too distracted, assume the worse, are stingy, are too prideful, or just downright ignorant; we don\u2019t help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does this remind you of a scripture in the Bible? Think about the sheep and the goat, does it ring a bell now?!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
31 \u201cWhen the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 \u201cThen the King will say to those on his right, \u2018Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.\u2019
37 \u201cThen the righteous will answer him, \u2018Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?\u2019
40 \u201cThe King will reply, \u2018Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.\u2019
Matthew 25:31-40<\/pre>\n\n\n\nYou see God put a spin on what He wanted me to say in God\u2019s message. He doesn\u2019t want us to block our blessings by being selfish. He doesn\u2019t want us to block our blessings by not taking risks and being stuck in our past hurts and pains. He doesn\u2019t want us out her scrambling for money and pinching pennies; he wants to give us the same resources like those who came before us. He wants to supply us with wealth, health, and finances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it something we are doing or is it the way we are thinking that is hindering ourselves from increasing our own resources? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about the story of the young man who was offered a job. When folks heard he turned down the job they could have easily said, \u201cnah brother, I\u2019m not helping you, you\u2019ve got to help yourself.\u201d They could have held back the blanket, the meal that was just going to go in the trash can because the person already had too much, they could have left him naked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My sisters and brothers I want us to think about the positives and stop focusing on our problems. I want us to stop looking at what your neighbors, family, and friends NOT DOING and focusing on what YOU\u2019RE DOING!!! I want us to start cleaning up our own cobwebs before we try to go to others and sweep off their front porches. Hello somebody, y\u2019all don\u2019t hear me talking this morning!!! (Figure of speech because you know I\u2019m writing lol) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We serve a generous God! We serve a merciful God! We serve a God who wants us to have an abundant life! We serve a God who is the answer! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are you doing to build up God\u2019s kingdom? What are you doing to help your neighbor? What are you doing to help build up yourself? What can you do differently to stay in your own lane without knocking someone else down? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are all good questions that we must ponder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are we seeing folks hungry, yet we don\u2019t feed them? Are we seeing folks thirsty, but don\u2019t offer them something to drink? Are they naked, but we won\u2019t clothe them? God\u2019s word says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.\u2019<\/pre>\n\n\n\nThe man standing outside of the store just might be telling the truth; only him and God know. His job may have been to see if you would extend a helping hand or you would hold back his blessings because you assume he is lazy. The scripture of the day is Proverb 10:4. Don\u2019t always assume the message is for someone else, it might be for you. Recognize my sisters and brothers and change your lives according to the will of God and not by what or how you think things should be. Be blessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n