Monday, January 28, 2008
Proverbs 31 woman - Day 8
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"She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor." Hmmm. This is one of those verses that I usually just skim past. You know, it doesn't really apply to me. Well, I'm going to MAKE it apply to me today. After all, isn't this pretty much the main principal that we, as followers of Christ and children of the King, are supposed to be modeling to a lost and dying world? Aren't we supposed to be different? Stand out? Be the one your neighbors think of if someone they know is in need of help? Like, "Oh, I'll call Suzy Smith over on the next block, she'll know what to do about XYZ situation". Years ago, when working for the Prosecutor in a small rural community, I became known as the 'answer lady'. Certainly not because I had all the answers to life, like some guru on a mountain top, but because I was "plugged in" to a fountain of resources to help people in our small community and beyond. I mostly worked with the victims of crime. Lots of domestic violence. Lots of poverty in the county I worked. Poverty seems to create problems in and of itself. It begets some of the issues that create need in many. So, if in my secular position I helped the poor and assisted those in need......how'm I doin' in the spiritual realm?? Not so hot. Last Sunday evening our Pastor spoke on this subject. Of reaching out and helping those in our community. In a very basic way.....like with food, shelter, job training, etc. I had gotten waylaid on the way out after service and hubby had already gone out and started the truck (since the subzero temps were unbearable). It was several minutes later when I finally walked out to our vehicle. As I was climbing in the truck, my hubby was saying "Didn't you see her, didn't you see the lady I was talking to?" I thought he meant someone in the church......"Didn't you see the lady I was just talking to....she was standing beside the truck for quite a while".....I mean, my normally very calm husband seemed pretty worked up over this woman. Seems she came up to him in the almost empty parking lot of our church and started asking him for money. Now, what you need to understand is our church is in a very middle class neighborhood.....but I have NEVER seen street people there. She gave him her 'story' in very quick order and even tho he explained he had no money (he really didn't, he NEVER carries cash......symptom of working in Chicago), he told her HIS WIFE worked with this other woman and helped people in situations like this and if she'd just stick around, I could tell her where to go to get help. NOW, this is significant. My husband has never acknowledged to ANYONE what I've done in the past with my friend (this a completely different entity than when I worked for the PA). NEVER seemed to even pay attention to the various 501 C3's I helped found in the past 10 years, since my 'retirement' from civic duty). Did nothing but moan and complain about the time I spent helping others.....so much so that I eventually backed off and do nothing but "consult" in the background now......and here he is telling some freezing woman that I can help her?? Huh. I have NEVER seen my husband so worked up about anything. He was like a mad man, telling me "we've GOT to find her.....we've GOT to go find where she went, she said she needed gas for her car, that she was LIVING in her car"......this as he screamed out of the driveway of the parking lot of our church...... He just kept saying "THIS is exactly what the Pastor was talking about......I saw her actually talk to a _______ (person of authority in our church) and he told her to go to the POLICE STATION.....what is that?? How is THAT helping?? She told me she'd BEEN to the police station and they just gave her a list of agencies.......I KNOW there are those out there that take advantage and I'm sure this church gets it's share of those.....but isn't this JUST WHAT OUR PASTOR PREACHED ON????" He was incredulous to think that these fine, warm and well fed people could just dismiss this woman. As was I, I just had been there, seen all that and not much surprises me any more. Long story short.....we found her standing in a gas station down the street from the church, asking another woman for money.....who was handing her a $5 as we drove up. My husband let out this HUGE sigh of relief, put the window down, hollered for her, looked at me and said "tell her".....although I'm quite sure he had no idea what I was going to say. I was able to tell her of an emergency shelter she was not aware of. She sounded like a very intelligent woman. Had a job interview the next day, or so she said. Had been sleeping in her car and showering in truck stops.....when she could panhandle the money. Had been on several other job interviews.....but job hunting isn't the best in the Midwest in January......if she was even telling the truth. She was well dressed, actually. Told her story somewhat again.....believable. On the way home, we got VERY quiet. I'm sure even small son was taken aback to actually see someone in that state of need. Not sure he ever has. I began wondering. Yes, there are scam artists and users all around us. But when was the last time I asked God to give me discernment to KNOW which of those I should help and which ones are actors? I think I've become just like the rest of the world, thinking things like "oh, they probably DESERVE it" or "they should just go and get on welfare".......and other worldly thoughts like that. QUICK to assist ANYONE in need. Which means I need to be prepared with knowledge. And prayed up to be able to tell the shills from the real thing. Reaches out to help the poor. Funny thing about that word "poor". I did a word study on that YEARS ago, along with my older Proverbs 31 woman study. Here is what I wrote 6 years ago..... ****20.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Poor – afflicted, weak, lowly Needy – subject to oppression or abuse, needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God. Our paraphrase: This woman reached out one hand to the poor, possibly this means the giving of money, yet she reaches out both hands to those in want, or subject to oppression or abuse. Ladies, I got so excited when I read this…….do you realize this verse is the Old Testament authority to reach out and help wounded and abused people…..people who are in trouble, meaning the enemy or oppressor, which we know as Satan? People who are abused are suffering directly the evil deeds of someone else who is operating under the power of Satan. I will let Sharon address this subject more thoroughly, but the word needy does not always mean financially bad off. The first part of this verse may specifically address the fact that she donated money with one hand…..I realize there are many other things we can do with one hand, but as a word picture, doing something with one hand seems to conjure up an image of something easier than doing something with one hand. It would be easier for me, and take less time, for me to donate money with one hand, whereas it would take more of my time if I were to do something with two hands…..such as help someone clean their house, hold them in my arms if they need a hug, or held together, or physically DO something for someone. I just get a sense that what would take two hands would take more of my time, than to just donate money, although there have been times I have needed to do that, mostly because of lack of time.**** Yes, it means monetarily, but it ALSO means 'poor in spirit, poor in emotional need, poor in spiritual need...........there are more ways to be "poor" than just financially. Then yesterday in our Sunday school class, our teacher spoke on reaching out to those in our class who are hurting. He said in this room (of about 20-25 people) there is at least one person who' heart is breaking for some reason. Our pastor quoted Billy Graham in saying if you always minister to broken hearts, you will always be not only doing the work of Christ, but you will always be busy.......interminably so. How often do I step out of my sterile, well ordered world to help someone else, WHATEVER that need is?? Whether it be financial or otherwise?? I've prayed several times this past week for that woman my husband found. We didn't even get her name. The cold snap has broken. If she's still living in her car, she's warmer at least. Then, this verse today. How often do I sidestep or ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit when I see a situation I could 'help' with? Does that grieve Him?? Am I hindering MY spiritual life b/c of it?? Wow. And I thought I wouldn't have much to 'say' today. I believe God is truly working not only in my heart, but especially in my husbands. These lessons have been put before us for a reason. I am praying we learn them well. Thinking back to a statement I made at the beginning of this post.....how "plugged in" am I to the ULTIMATE resource?? And how willing am I to 'pass it on'?? Could be the difference of life and death to someone. Not just a warm bed some night. Denise aka The Domestic Angel |
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