Give.

Tonight one of my favorite neighbor boys came over.  I hadn't seen him in a while and I was grateful that he stuck around for dinner.

As per status quot, my friend quickly asked for dinner with all his usual favorites (I will never understand ketchup on ramen).

As we sat down and caught up, I found myself praying for deeper understanding.  My friend is foreign to the culture, language, dreams, and goals of others around him.  He is hurting, lost, and physically and mentally unable to see the predicament he's in.  What am I supposed to do here?  What can I possibly say?  How could I ever help him see the life available to him if he is so content with what he has?

Then the Spirit reminded me of the time Jesus told the crowd to give to those who ask not expecting to receive anything in return.... What if Jesus isn't asking us to live in that state of perpetual surrender for the sake of those asking... what if Jesus is actually more concerned about those giving?

Because God's infinite mercy and sovereignty will always provide for the hurting and needy.  If not in our temporal existence, then definitely in His ethereal and eternal realm.  Jesus was homeless, he can't possibly be concerned about all those lacking the basic needs of humanity obtaining the empire's definition of middle-class socio-economic status.

So yes we are called to love our brothers and take care of those in need around us, always giving without concern or care; but who is God actually "saving" here, the poor that are already blessed (Matt 5:3), or us from the greed and selfishness that plagues our souls?

In sitting with my friend tonight I was strongly impressed that it's the latter.  The Spirit alone can convict and invite a soul into the Father's house.  I am just a witness to the truth that the invitation is real.  So when faced with an opportunity to serve, the one being served is already loved by the Father, residing as the apple of his eye, the lost sheep for which He is constantly seeking.  But me? I am a son being formed and molded in the likeness of my Father.  His loving eye is on me, but watchful in a different way, always looking for opportunities to teach, discipline, mold, and make so that He will be properly represented to those He is calling.

Giving is about the recipient and what the Lord might do through the gift.  Giving is a test (like the request of the father in the prodigal son story to the older brother), a refinement of the hearts of the King's people.  With every stranger's request we hear our Father's voice whisper, "You are mine, are you going to live like it?"

Give.  Not because the world needs it (though they do), but because that's what our Maker does.