A week or so ago, my family and I were in Detroit on a business trip. We had just eaten lunch downtown at a well-known pizza joint. It was very good!
We ordered two small pizza’s to feed the four of us hoping it would be enough. When the pizza’s arrived needless to say we could have just ordered one.
After enjoying the pizza and our time together, we had the leftovers boxed and decided to head back towards the hotel. It was mid afternoon and it was really hot and humid. We were only about five blocks from our hotel and were looking forward to the walk back.
As in many bigger cities, they seemed to be quite a few homeless around. We had been in town for nearly a week, and although we had seen many around, we had not been approached for anything the whole week.
On the way back to our hotel, I noticed across the street a man who was going through the garbage cans. He would look into each garbage can and then slam the lids down. They must had just been emptied. You could tell the man was becoming very upset.
As we continued to walk he took a course to cross the street. It was very evident that our courses would soon meet. As he entered onto the sidewalk from the street he look me right in the eyes and began to speak. I stopped him, as I knew what he was about to ask.
I asked the man, “Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” the man answered.
“Would you like the rest of our pizza? It is almost a full one!” I said.
He said yes and proceeded to ask if we could afford some money to buy him a drink as well. We gave him some money and prayed with him and he was on his way.
What stood out to me the most from this interaction was the look on his face when I stopped him from having to ask us for food. He didn’t need to ask, we could clearly see his need. It seemed to be such a relief to him that we recognized his need and that he did not need to beg.
I thought about Jesus and His faithfulness to meet our needs so faithfully. Although, we are encouraged to ask for our needs, it is a fact that they are often met before we ever get to the place of asking. God is such an awesome God. He see’s our needs and meets them every time.
Like Darnell, what a relief to know that God sees and know our needs. It is such a relief to know that God does not want his children to be beggars, but rather just receivers. God loves to give!
I will never forget the relief and gratitude on Darnell’s face that day. That day he did not have to beg, just receive. He was thankful. Are we thankful for God’s faithfulness to meet our needs? I know I have taken it for granted too many times.
Take a moment today and thank God for His faithful giving. Think about the many times that you did not need to beg but only receive from the goodness of our Great God!
