A good friend of mine got an eviction notice from both his tiny home and his shop. He was far behind on his mortgage payments and sales revenues for his business were nearly non-existent. He’s a craftsman extraordinaire and has worked in that shop building fine furniture art, some of which I am very fortunate to own, for as long as anybody can remember. He just turned 60, has no savings or retirement income, and is in poor health; in fact he begins chemo therapy through the VA for his degenerative spine ailment soon.
My buddy is as poor as they come and has been living on beans and franks and the like for as long as I’ve known him. He owns a few woodworking tools and a dilapidated car that was worn out ten years ago. He has one sister up north who is 70 and is just as poor as he is. He really has nowhere to go and no idea what he is going to do. One would think he would be feeling sorry for himself and crying himself to sleep each night, but he’s taking it in stride.
I witnessed to my friend, a complete agnostic, over a span of six years with no success. He steadfastly rejected all of my earnest arguments. Like so many people his understanding of what the Bible actually states about a variety of subjects was totally erroneous. I debated with him repeatedly and finally I brought him a Bible and asked him to just read it already so he can learn what it states first-hand. I instructed him to begin reading in Romans, and then continue by reading the New Testament.
He promised that he would. Now completely unbeknownst to me some other people in the community were simultaneously witnessing to him also. I was extremely gratified recently to learn that our efforts proved fruitful and he joyfully accepted Christ as His Savior.
The reason he’s not overly down in the dumps over his bleak financial dilemma and the instability that’s facing him is that he knows that he’s now in God’s capable hands and things will turn out all right for him in spite of the economy and not having the foggiest idea of where he will go, or what he will do. I haven’t seen such faith in some lifelong Christians I tell you.
The Bible tells us that Jesus has a special place in his heart for the poor and so should we. I’m attempting to assist my friend as he tries to get restarted in life and it’s not an easy task. It’s no misnomer when the name, “starving artist” is applied to our creative friends; most are devoid of logic, business sense, common sense, and sound reasoning capabilities. Their minds seem to stay in the clouds dreaming up delightful art, and never down on earth doing practical things like tilling the soil and digging potatoes.
Hopefully he’ll come around like he did with his relationship with the Lord, but I pray it’s not six years before he “sees the light”.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving we need to reflect upon those around us who are poor and needy, especially those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Some of you have introduced countless people to the Lord and have devoted your lives to helping others. Some of you have done nothing but think of yourselves.
All that can change today. What day would be more appropriate than Thanksgiving day? Just reach out to those who are poor and suffering.
Don’t know anyone poor right now?
Hmmm . . . There are literally billions of very poor people on this planet. One third of the earth’s inhabitants have never even made a phone call, forty per cent don’t have electricity, hunger is rampant, there are entire families trying to get into the limited available space in homeless shelters. Com’on . . .
Don’t think for a moment that all of those people are too lazy to work. Yes there are those who are lazy and would not work for love or money; (as far as I’m concerned let them starve), but there are plenty who suffer through no fault of their own right here in the good old United States of America and those of us who can help them, should.
Take the time to do something and realize what Thanksgiving and God and Jesus are really about.
Have a nice day today. I’m going deer hunting in less than two hours and hopefully some needy family is going to enjoy some venison as a result of my braving the freezing temperatures . . . At least that is the plan.
Matt.7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
November 28, 2013 – Click here to listen