We Call Ourselves Christians?

We were at the church this morning and me and Rae was standing out on the street before the service started, and this man came up to us and asked us for a single peso which works out to about 2.5 cents so it was a ton of money. We both (me and Rae) look at each other and say to him that we didn't have it. We did. So he walked away, we just got to thinking and talking about and decided that what we did was wrong. I went and gave him some money but that's not the point.

The point is we have become so conditioned to think that people are asking for help or asking for something when they don't need it and thus we simply dismiss them without another thought. This is not right we are called to take care of the poor, of the widows and orphans. I was disgusted with myself thinking about all of the times that people have asked for help and I have just dismissed them.

We are supposed to look to Christ as our example, what would he have done? How many times have you seen someone in need and simply walk on by or done nothing? I know that some people game the system and beg for things when they don't need them or will use whatever money that they get to fund a drug habit, I'm not stupid, but we should still help people. Rae has told me a good idea, you get a Ziploc bag and put travel size soap toothpaste, baby wipes granola bars etc and keep them in your car and give them to people in need. Now I know this is not enough but I don't know what else to do at this point. if anyone has any ideas.

This is a challenge for me because I tend to be very cynical of people. But I am trying to get better, & we are called to love people. Back in college I went on a week long missions trip to NOLA (New Orleans then the LA is the state abbreviation) and the group we were working with had a sort of catch phrase that I liked but I fail to live out so much of the time "Love God with all you got and love people till you drop." How many times I have failed to do either part of that catch phrase.