Recently, my Sunday Proverbs reading coincided with receiving information about the Loaves and Fishes meal program in Stone County, Missouri (see story this issue). The volunteers and churches involved in this wonderful program certainly exemplify Proverbs 22:9, “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (NKJV).
Thinking about the poor can be complicated these days. The Branson/Table Rock Lake area slows down in the off-season, like many places where tourism is a major economic factor. This means some families have tighter budgets due to reduced work hours. Other people find themselves in difficult circumstances due to unexpected medical bills, etc. Sometimes, poverty is the result of bad choices or generations of bad examples.
Unfortunately, many people have come to depend on the government for assistance to the poor. As a new Presidential administration promises to cut waste and increase efficiency in spending, some are wondering how that will affect such programs. But I don’t think government spending is what Proverbs is talking about; as I read that verse, I felt the Holy Spirit talking to me—Do I have a “generous eye?”
If I see a need, do I slow down and ask the Holy Spirit how I might be able to help? We contribute to local nonprofits that help the poor, especially those that believe and practice the “hand up, not a handout” concept through job training, childcare options, etc. Financial assistance is certainly appropriate sometimes, along with a deeper look at root causes and possible long-term solutions. But I think the verse goes deeper than finances. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus separates his true followers from those He “never knew,” based on their treatment of the less fortunate—the financially needy, but also the sick or those in prison.
What about the neighbor who has no family nearby? Can I be generous with my time, make sure she is invited to neighborhood get-togethers or special events, or just drop by to say hello? What about my friend who is facing her first holiday season after her husband passed away last fall? Does she need encouragement as she steps into that familiar pew at the Christmas Eve service without him? As she sorts through finances and property, could she benefit from a referral to agencies I found helpful when Dad passed away? Maybe my “generous eye” needs to be open to even wider possibilities—regular prayer for Christians being persecuted for their faith, or for Israeli citizens still coping with loss of loved ones and the uncertainty of war.
It’s also important to have a “generous eye” when thinking of the greatest need we all have, the need for a Savior. According to an October article in the New York Times, Bible sales are up significantly compared to last year. Are people searching for a source of truth that can help them cope with the stress and anxiety they feel? Can I be generous just by noticing when someone seems to be struggling, and offering Christ-centered conversation?
I can’t do everything or help everyone, but as followers of Christ work together, we can do a lot! Starting the New Year, the Holy Spirit seems to be reminding me through that Proverbs chapter to cultivate the habit of awareness as I look around me, and look intentionally for ways to show His love and be helpful however I can.
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