I was driving through town this morning and I could not help notice how two of our local beggars shared a sandwich together. This made me think that here are two people who have absolutely nothing and yet they share the little bit they have. The one not expecting anything in return maybe just a sip of the half empty cold drink they picked up in one of the dustbins.

How often are we willing to give something or help someone without expecting that person to do something in return. We so often expect someone to give us a gift that has the same value as the gift we gave that person or we are willing to help a family member or friend in need as long as they pay us back, we get something for our trouble.

Why is it that we will only do something for someone if we get something out of the deal. Is it because we have so much money and success that we are blind to see the few people in our world that are really struggling in life. Why can we just not help someone that is less fortunate with a smile?

I think it is because we are scared of letting go. We are afraid that if we give something or money away today that we are going to struggle tomorrow, we have absolutely no trust in God to take care of us. I had the opportunity to speak to one of the beggars one night. He was a very wealthy man and still is. He told me that he woke up one morning and decided that he had enough of the stress and the worries every day. He took a backpack and three sets of clothes, locked his flat door and told his secretary that he is going away.  He told his partner that he must please put all the money of his shares in the business in a trust fund for his niece until she is twenty one. He told him to also give his sister the keys to his bachelors pad so that she can keep it for her daughter.  The flat was fully paid for.  He sold his car and started hiking down to the west coast. He has been a beggar ever since. Nothing of what the man told me made any sense, why will anyone do this?

He could see the confusion and disbelief in my eyes, and that is when he told me that he had all those things but did not know God, now he has nothing but God as his best friend. This man understood that there was more to life than possessions and always wanting something in return. He was living in the grace of God trusting that God will provide in his needs everyday.

We are so consumed in our possessions and our money that we forget that these are all blessings that we receive every day. Do we give God time in return for everything He does for us on a daily basis, or don’t we even see Him in his grace and glory. We are so self-centred that we do not even recognise God in our daily lives and our achievements. Maybe it is time that we have a reality check and next time when someone ask us for help or money, we can give it with a smile and not expect anything in return