'Shabby' people

James 2: 1- 9

.....the poor....to be rich in faith....

It's a real pity but I don't think most of us in urban churches have experienced actually having someone with ragged clothes walk into our worship services!! Not only so but we may have missed the grace God offers through this. Would we (hopefully) see the person through His eyes and welcome him or her? Or would we feel a little uncomfortable and have some questions about the background and intent of the person (perhaps he or she has come with a sob story just to get help.....)

I often see an obviously needy person on the pavement either asking for money or selling tissues etc. Sometimes, it is really painful to watch how they just sit there, waiting......hoping for the generosity of passers by. I push away my 'doubts' about their authenticity by reminding myself that it really takes much courage and a swallowing of any pride to do what they do. And sometimes, I wonder what more I should do besides dropping some change to them. I must say, apart from a particular blind man, that I have never stopped to speak to them. Cowardly self-conscious perhaps. And missing the chance to discover Christ's heart towards the poor and needy.

"You will always have the poor with you....." are our Lord's words. Yes, they will always be there to remind us that we are the Lord's presence to them. We will never be able to solve the world's problems........but we can start where we are....perhaps allowing these people to 'ask' us questions about our lifestyles, our hearts.....questions that go deep, and can be uncomfortable at times. But these are questions without which our souls might be stunted. The questions are not there to create false guilt but would have achieved their purpose when hearts are so moved with compassion that we long to reach out, even to one person at a time.