What’s In It For You?

Our bodies are about 60% water.  Since moving to TN, I have become more aware of that fact.  The summers are hot, and when navigating life during that time of the year – I tend to ‘melt’.  Replacing lost fluids is vital.

I’ll never forget that hot July afternoon when my friend Ken, bought me a cold drink.

“Big deal,” you say.  Happens all the time.  That’s what friends do for one another.  They are ‘aware’ of needs and they ‘bless’ one another. But this was a big deal – and it rocked my world.

Why was buying me a cold drink on a hot day a big deal?  It was because my friend Ken is a homeless man on the streets of Nashville.

Ken and I had met many months before this, and our friendship was growing as we spent more time together.  We had shared many a meal together, but in every instance before this, I provided – so this surprised me.  How do you respond when such an offer is made? (How will my response affect Ken?)

• “That’s really sweet Ken, but no, I’ll get it.” (The paternalistic: I have more than you and I know what’s best for the both of us)
• “Oh no, no, no, Ken, I can’t accept.” (The shaming: Don’t be a fool, save your money.  Don’t you know you you’re broke?)
• To cashier – “Please, don’t listen to him, I’ve got it.” (The proud: I’m the valuable one here – he doesn’t have anything for me that I can’t provide for myself)

In a flash of rare wisdom, or perhaps divine intervention, the urge to voice these objections died between my brain and my mouth, and my heart graciously received the surprising gift of a friend. “Thanks, Ken! That would be wonderful – what a blessing!”  (The grateful: You are a valued friend.)

In the gentle breeze of giving and grace, the dim embers of Ken’s value and dignity – smothered by past mistakes and current shame – ignited.  The conversation we had that day was deep and rich and meaningful.  We learned things about one another that we had not known before and when our time together ended, we were closer than when it started.  I felt blessed – and Jesus was there with us.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but I have always overlooked “brothers of mine.” Your translation may say “my brethren” or something of the like. What a difference those three words make!  In reality, Jesus identifies “the least of these” in relational terms. He calls them brothers (and sisters).

I’ve realized giving and serving are not really about doing things for Jesus – He is God, and if He wants something, He’ll have it.  This motive, at best, keeps us at arms-length.  With this perspective, I buy Ken a cold drink and have a fleeting feeling of goodness as I walk away from Ken.

Instead, giving and serving are invitations to be with Jesus. He is with his brothers and sisters in desperate need (materially, spiritually, relationally, physically, etc.). He is with you and me.  When we accept Jesus’ invitation and relationally come together to serve one another, Jesus reveals himself in new, deeper, life-changing, and life-giving ways. With this perspective, Ken provides for me. We give and receive from each other. And we walk away together in awe of Jesus.

When encouraging people to pursue friendship with the “least of these”, I’m often asked – and I love the honesty – “What’s in it for me?” Truth is, I don’t know – exactly.  This is relationship in a broken world and it’s a journey and it can be messy.  But I do believe that as you are with “the least of these,” you will get your cold drink on a hot day – it will be what you need, and it may come from the unlikeliest of places. Receive it with grace and in the midst of the refreshment, there will be joy.  And immediately, or perhaps at a later date, or maybe not until eternity, you will know that during that time you’d been with Jesus – because there is a new, a closer friendship you have with Him.

My friend, Pastor Kevin Riggs, puts it this way – “The more time I spend with people on the margins, the closer I get to God.”

What about you?

One last thing – I am not a Pastor or a Biblical Scholar.  My Pastor and friend, Scott Sauls is both.  In his blog post A Jesus-like Church Culture, Scott considers what aligning “our collective life and ministry to the life and ministry of Jesus” looks like.  It is a must-read.

– Marten Fadelle, Middle TN Field Director

Indispensable Love

“On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.  And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.  But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
( I Corinthians 12:22-25)

All across America in many communities we see men and women in need with signs that read, “Please Help” like the one shown here.  A weekly visual of men and women with cardboard signs, standing in the middle of intersections, along curbsides and street corners has become a common norm.
How often do those of us who are living out the gospel think about the above passage of scripture when we see our neighbors in need?  “…If one part suffers, every part suffers with it……”Do we immediately ask ourselves what can we do to help ease their suffering? So many questions flood my mind as to what happened, how did they get here or wonder what is the story behind the sign?  Or do we look the other way and pretend that it’s easier not to see them at all?

 A consistent visual for most downtown communities is watching various diverse groups of people interact, while navigating through a daily routine.  The image of the employed walking, biking or driving to their place of work is mirrored with our unemployed neighbors with stuffed backpacks, duffle bags and carts filled to the top with as many valuables as it could hold.

Currently our JfL family is busy coordinating orientation and scheduling meet and greet events to welcome a new group of students and mentors into our Fall classes.  These classes are filled with Leaders who are equipped to walk along side our neighbors who are burdened with histories of poverty, pain and despair stuffed in their backpacks.  Let us practice extending indispensable love to the men and women who continue to carry duffle bags full of negative stigmas labeled by a life of poverty, abuse and depression. Over the next eight weeks, students attending a JfL class will be taught biblical principles concerning work.  Students will experience indispensable love from a group of volunteer ministry and community leaders committed to loving thy neighbor to create sustainable change.

Shay Bethea, JfL Director of Training