Giver Beware

As many athletes have a standard routine before each game or match, I have a standard routine I do before each Sunday service.   After early morning prayers and getting dressed, I go to a local fitness facility for a workout.    After dressing in my church clothes,  I go to a local convenience store where I sit in my truck and review the Sunday sermon and bulletin before heading to church.  As I was sitting at that local convenience store a few weeks ago,  I had something happen that had never happened there.   As I sat in my truck, a man knocked on my window.    When I rolled down the window, he told me that he needed some money for vehicle repair.  He explained that he and his wife had broken down in their vehicle... that they had a baby... and that they had a child with Downs syndrome.   As he made his request for money, he told me that he needed a few dollars to have enough money to buy the part to repair his car.    I told him that I would help him.  While he requested that I give him the money,  I told him that I would take the money to the parts store where he said that he would buy the part (which was less than half a mile away.)  

When I arrived at the parts store, I explained to the clerks that I was there to give monies for  the man who was trying to get his vehicle fixed and needed some money.  The parts store clerks told me  that they did not know of any man.  Furthermore, they told me that this same scenario had happened a few times before recently.     I then went back to the convenience store to discover  the gentleman who had had asked for money was still there.   When I told him that the people at the parts store did not know anything about his need for parts to repair his car,  he changed his story and told me that he had not been  to the parts store yet.   I wanted to ask how he knew how much the part would cost, but did not.   In a couple of minutes, I watched this man ride away in a burgundy mustang.   From my observation, there were no children or wife in the car which he said was broken down.

I must say that the outcome of this incident made me angry and disappointed.  I do not like to be lied to.   While I do not know what the man was going to do with the money,  I feel very confident that it was not to repair his car or help his family.     I tell this story for one reason and it it this:  GIVER BEWARE.     As it is important to do your due diligence in buying a car, a home, or consumer goods, it is also important to do your due diligence in those causes you support with your monies.  There are many wonderful charities and causes in our world that are doing some outstanding work and are touching many lives for good.   Likewise,  there are some people and causes that are deceptive in their use of gifts and/or who have a lot of administrative costs.     Give, my friends.   According to the Book of Acts, the only words of Jesus outside the gospels are found there in these words:  "It is more blessed to give than to receive."   Give, but give wisely.    Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:     O God, I pray for those in need in our world.  Give me wisdom as I make decisions on those people and causes I will help;  in the name of  Christ our Lord.   Amen.