Half A Biscuit

Proverbs 19:17 – He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. (NIV)

About eighteen months ago, I was in a restaurant having a coffee before Sunday School. At one of the tables, a woman was sitting alone, looking unkempt, unwashed, and untidy. She was having an imaginary conversation with someone who wasn't there, but every now and then, she looked over to my wife and me, smiled sweetly and then continued talking to herself.

Five minutes later, one of the servers came over to sit down for her breakfast break. At first, I thought she was going to ask the lady to leave. Instead, she sat down beside her and carefully halved her sausage biscuit with the woman. It was a beautiful and sacred moment. A Holy Communion was taking place before my very eyes.

What made this even more special was the fact that I knew the server was having severe financial problems of her own at the time. But here she was, sharing half of everything she possessed on that morning with someone whose need was greater than her own.

Jesus once said, "The poor you will always have with you." (Matthew 26:11 NIV) Deuteronomy 15:11 says, "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed towards your brothers and towards the poor and needy in your land." (NIV) The server at the restaurant preached to me a beautiful sermon that morning. As she gave to the poor, bedraggled lady, she was lending to the Lord. One day, He will amply reward her for that moment of true compassion and genuine love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You challenge us to do what we can to help people less fortunate than ourselves. Take away our excuses and fears, our lack of patience and compassion. Enable us to see and grasp those opportunities for kindness and care that You place before us. Grant us the strength to fulfill Your words by doing whatever we can. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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