An Observation On The Homeless And Poor

Today, I got a little insight into the lives of the homeless and the poor. We know a lot of people who live below the poverty level. We have tried to help these people get back on their feet. I was talking with a friend this morning when I realized that there is a common thread among many, but not all, of those who suffer from poverty.

I am, by no means, trying to judge anyone or make anyone feel ashamed. Please understand our goal is to help people, and to restore dignity to each person. We all know that sometimes we make bad choices, and we reap bad consequences. But, at the same time, there are those who seem to experience the consequences of actions done by others to them. Or, they have tried their best to make life work, yet it hasn't, for whatever reason.

For some people, not just homeless either, the will to live is no longer there. It may be called, 'failure to thrive'. Something happened, and the course of the person's life changes drastically, and whatever energy left to live on, and whatever motivation to live on, is not there anymore.

Let me give a general synopsis of what I am talking about. This is also not an uncommon experience. Let's say, a man and woman have been married for many years. Then, the woman dies. Two weeks later, the man dies. There was no more reason for the man to live anymore, since his wife passed away.

 They have just lost the compass of their lives and they feel like there is really no purpose for their being here. And we come along and try to help them. but the help ends up being like a 'Money Pit' type of situation sometimes. We do everything for the person to get back on his or her feet, yet the person ends up staying in the same place or even reverting. What could the problem be? How can we help?

   The homeless and poor seem to experience this as well. A spouse may die. Maybe the person could never get work. One door after another gets shut. Life may just be too hard for someone to handle.

   We know the answer is the Gospel. But how do we get the Gospel to these people? How can they hear it and see it?

   I don't pretend to have any answers for this. We are to serve people where they are at. We are to demonstrate the Gospel to them. They need to see the love of God in us. They need to understand God's love for them and His provision for them to be saved.

   Maybe a little insight would be this; they need to know they are people created by God. We need to undo the lies of the Enemy that he has fed them all their lives. By getting to know them and making our communication personal, they will begin to understand that they are here for a reason, and that their lives are not a mistake or a product of evolution.

   Then we demonstrate the Gospel before them, and we declare the Gospel message to them. God will do the work in the hearts of those who are hearing His word. God will be the reason for them to have hope restored and they will have a vision for living again.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he who keeps the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18