Several times in my hometown I have been approached by a person wanting a few dollars because he was low on gas and needed to get home to his sick wife, baby, sister, or some other person he tells about. After a couple of times of giving money to help this person I decided to follow him and see if he really needed gas to get home.
I've even been approached by people inside the big box stores asking me to buy toilet paper and soap to the tune of $50. I've heard the cashiers are even in on it and get a kickback when that person later returns the merchandise.
Another time I was approached was at the federal monument in Oklahoma City where many were killed by a bomb. Evidently this person works these grounds, especially at night, when I was there, because there are no eating establishments or gas stations open in that area. He seemed desperate and told me that he and his family were stranded and hungry because someone had stolen his wallet.
Not long ago I was in Jackson, Mississippi, and stopped at a local gas station to put fuel in my car. As I pulled in I noticed a young man in a minivan going through his wallet and looking in his car for something. I had just put my credit card in the pump when he asked me if I would buy him a gallon of gas so that he could get 20 miles south of Jackson to his home. He said he lost his debit card and had tried calling his mom to help him but could not reach her. He seemed really sincere and I put my card in his pump to get him some gas also and he asked me, “How much do you want me to put in?” I told him $10 to $15 to insure that he had enough to get where he was going.
I should have realized he wasn’t on the up and up when he put the larger amount in, however my wife and I felt that we had helped someone truly in need. He had really convinced us he was in a desperate situation. Even though we had no intention of seeing this young man again we did come across him and a young lady with children in the van approximately one hour later in a different section of Jackson. He had told us a lie and was not on his way home and he didn’t seem very destitute at this time.
It really bothers me when I have tried to help someone and find out they have lied to me and deceived me with a false story. I know many people that have quit giving to anyone needing help because of these same type circumstances however my wife and I will continue to help if we believe that someone is really in need. In other instances we have seen a family come to know the Lord because of the generosity of the church and willingness to help. The Lord tells us to be a cheerful giver in 2 Corinthians 9:7; “So let each one give as he purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
The man in my hometown that is always hitting up people for a loan or a handout knows that I am a Christian and loves the Lord. It is not for me to judge what he does with the money because I know that he has told me a lie and doesn’t use it for what he asked for. I will continue to help this person but will not give him any more money; however I will go and buy him gas or food if I have the ability to do so. The Lord tells us to plant the seed and He will reap the harvest.
The man is Oklahoma City probably continues to ask for help for his family today at the memorial site. When he asked me was many years ago and people like him use these memorial places to hit on people’s feelings and goodness of gracious giving. Hopefully one day he or some of the other people that have been helped will come to know the Lord personally and return the many favors that have been given to them.
GARY ANDREWS is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.
