My new Christ following friend and I hung out with Jimmy yesterday. Our plan was to pass out water and fruit and then ask the homeless what they really needed. What could we bring to them next time that would be helpful, good, worthwhile? Jimmy had an answer for us. He said, “Sometimes I just go hungry because I want to eat what I want to eat, not what someone else wants me to eat. Me, I’m lonely. I need company.”
Well, we’d asked and we couldn’t just be like, ok, well, that’s nice see ya. So we plunkered down on his piece of the world with our 5 kids in tow, literally messin’ in his stuff and makin’ themselves right at home. We talked with Jimmy, found out alot about him. Found out that he used to be a Chemical Engineer. He used to be married, has 6 kids. He’s 59 years old and never thought he’d be in this situation. We asked him what brought him back to Arkansas. He said, “Stupidity.”
He knows Jesus, too. He was reading his Bible when we walked up to him. But he said something that I believe most Christians think, “Well, I don’t have nothing to give. I have enough to worry about for myself. If I start helping other people, I forget about helping me and that’s what I need to focus on right now. Getting established.”
Ouch. I wanted to yell, “NO! If we all did that, no one would ever get any help! No! That’s not what Jesus says to do!” God helps those who help themselves is quite literally bullsh–. Excuse me, but there is not another word for it. You will not find that in the words of the Bible, in scripture, in Jesus, the word of God. That is watered-down, Oprahism. God commands us to carry each other’s burdens. To cast our cares on HIM!
I said this to Jimmy in a gentle way. I said, “Jimmy, I see where you’re coming from, but what if everyone felt that way. What a sad world.” I just sat and imagined what Jesus could accomplish through Jimmy if Jimmy asked the Holy Spirit to show him who and how he could help. Jimmy said he didn’t talk to anyone. How sad and no wonder he’s lonely.
Jimmy actually has a car and he’s coming to The City Church tomorrow. Lord, blow up Jimmy’s faith. Show Him your power. I pray against any spirit of confusion that binds him to himself and keeps him from reaching out. Lord, I pray against the spirit of fear in the church that keeps your people from living out the gospel. Lord, you did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of LOVE, POWER and SELF-CONTROL (OR SOUND MIND). It’s by and through the power of Jesus that we can come to you in prayer. Thank you, you are so awesome! Amen.
Ah, scripture to back up that I’m not crazy for wanting to show my love for Jesus in radical ways.
Photo Courtesty: Glamlife-StudentPortal (thanks!)
