One day a father gave his son 50 cents and told him he could do with it as he pleased. When the young lad returned, the dad asked him what he had done with the money. The young boy replied that he had lent it to someone.
The inquiring father asked, “Who did you lend it to?” To which the boy answered, “I gave it to a poor man on the street because he looked hungry.”
The dad was quite disturbed and even told his son that was a foolish gesture. He sought to inform his boy that he would never see that 50 cents again. The boy thought for a moment and kindly answered his father, “But Daddy, the Bible says that people who give to the poor lend to the Lord.”
The father was touched by such a response and decided to give his boy another 50 cents. The boy said, “See, I told you I would get it back—only I didn’t think it would be so soon!”
Has the Lord ever asked you for a loan? Have you ever recognized, in the needs of others, a direct request from heaven for some of what you have? The Bible warns against the sin of passing by the needy with pious words while keeping a tight grip on our wallets. James 2:15-17 says, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
The believer is not promised immediate reward. But teaching about Jesus’ return, He says we will be rewarded for giving of ourselves to others in His name (Matthew 25:34-46).
Yeah...we do this stuff too :)