A calloused Heart

There are moments in time when you may not know why you are to do something, yet you go and do it.  Then that moment leads you into doing something more.  Finally, a major decision has to be made:  you can walk away or address it.  Such was my experience tonight.

Tonight I had the privilege of working.  It was for a few hours and in the company of good people.  After the job was done, I was to join a friend for dinner at a nice restaurant, but for a great priced deal.  On my way to the restaurant, I could not find the entrance to the parking area.  I ended up entering into a winding walking path; of which I did not witness any posted notice.  I approached two ladies who were on the path and asked them how I could get out.  They stated that there was no way out, I had to make my own way back to from where I entered the path.  Hence, I went slightly off-road, back on the path, and out of the walking path.  After I exited, I found the entrance to the restaurant, which was hidden from ordinary view. 

Once at the restaurant, I met my with my friend and was able to spend some time in fellowship and sharing some recent highlights of the week.  We had a good and full-meal, but decided to take home a baked potato.  On my way home, I was inclined to stop by a fuel station and fill-up my tank.  Lately, the Holy Spirit has led me with the right timing as to when I am suppose to do so; so I was not too surprised with such an inclination.  While filling-up my tank, I saw a man scrounging through the trash bins that were located around the fuel-pumps.  I perceive that perhaps he was searching  for food or anything edible.  He was both a homeless and battered man; my heart went out to him.  I began to contemplate whether or not to give him my potato; it was a good-sized fully-loaded baked-potato and I had hoped to enjoy it the following day as part of my lunch.  I began to play with the thought of buying him something else to eat and perhaps a bottle of water or tea.  When my tank was full, I drove away from the fuel station slowly.  However, I still was trying hard to justify why I should keep my potato. 

As I drove away, I now had a decision to make: take the expressway up-ramp towards home or drive a bit forward and turn back to the gas station.  I chose to turn back to the gas station.  Now that I had chosen this option, I needed a plan of action.  So I drove up to the fuel station, got off my vehicle, and scanned through the store. I picked up a bottle of both tea and water, as well as requested a loose fork or spoon from the clerk.  After paying for my purchases, I went into my truck and prepared the package for him.  I then drove up close to them man and called out to him: "hi, are you hungry? tienes hambre?" as I held out the bag with a stretched out arm from within my vehicle.  The man looked at me strangely, and looked at the bag.  He was hesitant to grab a hold of it and murmured something I could not understand.  Once he grabbed it, I told him "God bless you" and drove away slowly.  I kept looking back through my mirror as the man held on to his bag and scanning (not scrounging) for something more to eat. 

On my way home I could not help to reflect over this matter that God had placed before me.  I could not believe how calloused my heart had grown through out the years over not reaching out to a hungry man.  I could not believe how much I tried to justify keeping a potato, when I myself had been treated to a full meal (Cesar salad, appetizer, a roll, and a desert); I was full when I left this restaurant and my friend had paid for most of the meal!  What I horrible person I had been throughout the course of addressing this matter!  Now, it is my hope that this man was blessed and delighted from what little I could give to him; not for my own praise, but for the honor and glory of God.  It is my prayer, that God continue to work with me as I continue to remove such a callus but also keep others from developing near or on my heart.

It is written in Matthew chapter 25,  

• "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;' ... (v. 34-35)  "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed [You], or thirsty and give [You] drink?" ... (v. 25:37) ...  "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me.'" (v. 40). (NKJV)
  

In closing, I perceived that there are far too many people who have developed a callous towards "one of the least of these".  There is contemplation as to how to help them and even thoughts of allowing someone else the privilege to do so in their place.  Tonight, the Holy Spirit woke me up with regards to this matter, and demonstrated to me, through a series of events, what it means to have a heart of service for whom God calls to serve.