Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
A matter really really close to my heart lately is about all the people on welfare/food stamps, and all the people who are SUPPOSED to be Christians (or even just decent human beings) complaining about it.
I know for the 3 families that NEED food stamps there are probably 3 more individuals who are perfectly capable of providing for themselves and just refuse to (at least here in the Detroit area), but I also KNOW there ARE those families who are hard working and love each other and just need the extra help too!
My next door neighbor is an excellent example. She works full time and goes to school full time. She lives with her mom and her brother and her 2 children who are both clean and well taken care of. She has taxes taken out of her check every week, just like you, and pays taxes on the things she buys, just like you. She also happens to have an ebt card. Does she sound lazy to you? Do you think she enjoys that despite the fact she is working so hard and living with her mother to save money she still needs help feeding her family? I highly doubt it.
I have heard stories of people "saying things" to the person in front of them paying with the bridge card, things like "you're welcome for that" or even worse or more cruel things. To them I say, SHAME ON YOU! You have no idea what their background or home situation is. What an awful example of the love of Christ. If the body of Christ was following its call to feed the poor and care for the widows and orphans, that person wouldn't have to turn to the government to feed their family.
Maybe it's not THEIR laziness you need to be concerned about, maybe its YOURS! What have you done for the poor in your community lately? What have you done to reach out and show the love of Christ, father to the fatherless? If you proclaim to be a Christian, you need to do so everywhere you go, you are not exempt in the line at the grocery store.
Next time, maybe say a prayer for that family, and thank God that you have the ability to pay for your own food with your own money and have some left over for bills as well. You have the freedom to go through the grocery store line without receiving stares, dirty looks, or comments that can come along with using the Bridge card.
It's not the concept of their perceived laziness that bothers me, its our ACTUAL laziness as Christians which comes to my mind when I see a person use one of those cards.
So what will you do to change it?
Is 41:17. The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them.
Luke 6:20-21. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
James 2:5. Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
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