A youngish man stood at the traffic lights greeting everyone with a salute and a big smile. You could see he’d been exposed to the elements for some time. I couldn’t make out what was written on his sign board, since it had also come a long way. But I could make out the last two words: “God bless!”

I wondered if God would bless me if I gave the man something. The older driver in front of me called him over and handed him R100. I wondered if the man had also thought about God’s blessing given to people who give …

I’m not commenting here on whether or not one should give money to people standing at the traffic lights with signs saying that God will bless us if we give something. Every person must decide for themselves where they will give and where not, or rather, where God wants them to make a difference in the lives of others.

But sometimes I feel as if these people standing at the traffic lights are pushing your guilt buttons, and that’s why you give something. Are you then giving because God persuaded you to or because you’re buying off your debt?

Actually, it’s easier to take money from your wallet and give it to someone else than to get your hands dirty and give some of your valuable time to make a difference where real need exists.

You see, when you give, it should be a consequence of the way you live. If your life is not aligned with God’s guidelines, we’re just buying off our feelings of guilt by giving someone a few rands.

²⁷This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

Make sure that you’re not living like the people of the world. Remember, we are in this world, but not of the world. We are God’s holy children, and being holy means to be set apart.

We are set apart for God. We are His representatives here on earth, and people should be able to see it. Even if you meet people just once. We shouldn’t be strangers to people, but we shouldn’t do what they do.

We must keep our lives clean. Even the way we help poor people should show the way to God. Let it tell the story of children doing faithfully what their Father expects of them.

Let’s not buy off our feelings of guilt, but live the command of love and make a difference wherever we go.

Scripture
James 1:26-27

Reflection
Are you doing?
Are you listening?
Are you showing?

Prayer
Father, it’s not always easy for me to live in this world as Your child. Sometimes I don’t feel like doing good. Sometimes I live like the people of the world. But I don’t want to. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.