Shepherding: Care for the Needy

The past few days have been an intense exercise of my spirit to really consider and look to the Lord how to take care of a very needy brother. I was in dilemma as I would not want to succumb to my own goodness apart from the goodness of the Lord. I have had enough experiences of helping people, even very needy people, naturally. By my nature, since childhood, I have been trained to help the needy people, even at the cost of my own expense. And in that very act of "good deeds" I had eaten of the wrong tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Besides, I had also been "cheated" in some of the cases as people who knew me also knew they can easily get help from me, even financially. In addition, instead of really help the needy, I ended up spoiling them, making myself an easy prey, and putting them to the condemnation of their unrighteous deeds when they don't payback which they promised to. For these reasons, I have learned the lesson to be very very careful in helping the needy people.

Few weeks ago, I received an emergency message from a brother whom I knew a decade ago. On learning his urgent need, I had transferred Rs. 3500 from the offering that was routed through me for needy saints. A week later the same brother came and narrated his plight; he struggled to even pay his room rent for over three months. He had mentioned to me his problems again and again. But this time I wanted him to learn his lesson and I also wanted to learn my lesson as well. Having dully realised money is not his real need, I led him to trust the Lord and pray, which he did to my gladness.

From my end, I also prayed and looked to the Lord for His clear leading as to how to help him in the way that he really received the help he needed. Surprisingly enough, the Lord began to speak to me from my Bible reading from the book of Proverbs, everyday continuously for few days about the need to take care of the poor and needy people, especially the saints. Then I realised that I should indeed help in all possible way. With this clear cut leading from the Lord I fellowshipped with my wife and she felt that we should indeed help him but with the condition that he should also learn his lesson on money matters. Therefore, we decided to help him.

Meanwhile, because of his desperateness, he texted me that he could not sleep in the night, he was full of anxiety, he had no peace nor rest, he could not stay in his room as he did not pay his room rent, and he could not get a job either in spite of all his searching. At such a tough time in his life, he even contemplated taking his life, which he said, Jesus did not allow. He had been through a thorough dealing from the Lord as he confessed that it was indeed the Lord who touched him, awakening him from his long spiritual slumber to love the Lord and the church. For this, he also prayed overnight and would often go to a park to pray and read the word of God. I was especially glad to hear that he really looked to the Lord.

From his side and my side, we both experienced the Lord to receive and to give. Therefore, life lessons were learned, and our receiving and giving is purely and truly out of the Lord. As such, it is such a joy, peace, and thankfulness in our receiving and giving. Therefore, we helped with another Rs. 8,000,  with a note that he should payback once he can. Later, he texted me that this was indeed a timely help as the owner of his room locked his room due to non-payment of rent and was given the room key on payment of the Rs. 8000 we just lent him with. Our hearts actually was an offering, but to help in money matters we inserted a clause, payback when you can. 

Perhaps, this may be the best way to care for the needy saints. What a lesson! What a blessing!