“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse” (Proverbs 28:27).

It was a terrible dilemma. The young pastor answered the door to find a man standing before him with several young children. Just off in the background was a station wagon loaded to the brim with their possessions. His wife and two more children were squeezed into the car. The pastor’s eyes immediately returned to the man who spoke softly. “Are you the pastor?” he asked. “I see your house is next to the church, and the people down the road gave us some gas money and told me I needed to come and see you,” he said as his eyes looked down. “I heard there was work in Chicago, and we had enough money to make it until the car broke down in Buffalo. We haven’t eaten anything today and were wondering…well, we were…is there anything I can do at the church to make some money to get my family some supper?” he asked with a note of shame in his voice. The dilemma was that the young pastor was taking his wife out to dinner to celebrate their anniversary. He had reservations at a very nice restaurant that evening, and they had to be leaving. From behind him came the voice of his wife saying, “Excuse me. I don’t know about any work at the church, but there is plenty of food in our house. Come in while I pack your supper. Come on now. Your family is welcome.” It was a sight the pastor would never forget. Later that week he came to our verse in Proverbs 28:27 and thought of that family who hugged them that night as they pulled away, waving their hands good-bye and eating their packed supper.

For today: I know you have to be careful who you help, but there is a great blessing in helping those who really need it.