The Poor Man Test

The Poor Man Test

We were heading home from church one Sunday. My oldest, Brady, who was only two or three at the time, was bundled up in his car seat when we exited the freeway to head to the suburbs. We were on a tight budget, and we couldn’t afford to live in town near our church.

A woman held up a sign asking for money. We had seen her on our way home from church more than once. As I took the left turn and passed right on through the light, Brady said to me, “Daddy, what does she want?”

I curtly responded, “Oh, Brady, she just wants some money. She needs some help.”

With the faith and wisdom of a pure-hearted child, he said, “Well, Daddy, we’ve got to help her.”

Immediately I turned the car around, stopped to see what I had in my pocket, and then proceeded to circle the freeway to come back around to the woman. When I rolled my window down and she approached, I asked her name, and I told Kathy that we wanted to bless her, and gave her some money.

While reflecting on that moment, I have wondered what it is about growing up that causes us to lose our innocent faith and cling to our money. Part of a maturing faith is putting your money on the line. It is the one area where God says, “Try me in this!” (see Malachi 3:10). For many people, money is the one area that they withhold from God. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). In other words, look at where a man puts his money and you will see what has his heart.

One way to determine who or what has your heart is to look at your attitude regarding the poor. Proverbs 14:31 states, “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.” Do you show contempt for the poor, or do you respect them and show them kindness? Is your treasure found in your wallet or in your obedience to God? What you do with the poor in your midst declares what you think about God.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21, ESV